Drones and policing: What to know about Nassau County's new $1 million program

Nassau County police are deploying eight new drones, acting as first responders to emergency calls and patrolling over large events, the department announced Monday.

The $1 million program is being paid for with the police department’s asset forfeiture funds, and will become part of a fleet of 70 drones used by 40 officers who are FAA-certified drone pilots, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said in a news conference from the department’s police training center in Uniondale.

Police said the drones can fly for 30 minutes at a time from a 2.5-mile radius and can be automatically launched from different positions throughout the county. Ryder said the new technology travels up to 45 mph and can reach locations within the radius in less than one minute to give police a view from 200 feet above of a scene and zoom in for details such as license plate numbers.

The drones can also fly at night with infrared vision to search for fleeing suspects or a missing person, Ryder said. He said the drone cameras would remain focused on a specific target or large gatherings and will not track below as it flies.

"The drones are not patrolling your backyard, they're not patrolling your neighborhood, they're patrolling areas of concern ... like a cop does," Ryder said. "So if the cop can see it, the drone can see it, but the drone can see it better and faster and then be able to provide that technology of that video."

Police said the drones are designed to respond faster than police can reach a scene by car, including to an active shooter, barricaded suspect or pursuits. Drones have also been used by police at events such as concerts at Eisenhower Park and around Nassau Coliseum during a 2024 visit by President Donald Trump.

Police drones have added to emerging technology used by police in the region, including the NYPD, Suffolk County and several Long Island villages.

Suffolk County announced their $600,000 drone program last year with five drones available in precincts that include the First, Second and Third to act as first responders.

Asset forfeiture funds are collected by law enforcement from confiscated materials connected to criminal cases.

Nassau police, joined by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, said the drones can monitor traffic patterns and crowd control.

"These drones will be patrolling, and they'll also be responding," Blakeman said. "So, in other words, during the course of a day or an evening, drones will be up in the air on a regular basis."

Experts said law enforcement's use of drones can benefit officers, but also raises questions about privacy concerns.

Adam Wandt, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said state law does not regulate drones, which must follow federal aviation and communication jurisdiction rules. Law enforcement has waivers on certain regulations, including how high and far drones can fly. He said regulations about drone use and civil liberties are still being addressed.

"There's a lot of positives, and there's also a lot of questions and safeguards that need to accompany anything like this," Wandt said. "The positives are clear. Drones don't care about traffic. Drones don't care about having to follow streets to get where they're going." 

The New York Civil Liberties Union said the drones were an overreach by police and an invasion of privacy.

"Nassau and Suffolk counties’ move to flood the sky with invasive drones will be a privacy nightmare and do nothing to make residents safer," said Daniel Schwarz, senior privacy and technology strategist at the NYCLU. "Drones do not provide meaningful benefits for communities or work well as first responders ...  Without tight restrictions on drone use, access, data sharing, and retention, all of Long Islanders’ privacy rights will be at risk."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.