A new “Robocop”-esque fleet of drone “first-responders” will begin helping Nassau County authorities with surveillance during emergency calls and large-scale events, according to officials.
The $1 million “Drone First Responder Program” will deploy 70 drones to a 40-man unit of FAA-certified officers stationed throughout eight locations in the county and allow them to view live aerial footage during emergency calls, large gatherings or any time police are dispatched, officials announced at the police training center in Uniondale, LI, on Monday.
“Trying to stay ahead of the curve is something we strive for every single day to protect Nassau County residents,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said of the program — which is reminiscent of technology featured in 1987’s sci-fi classic flick “Robocop.”
The drones can fly for roughly 30 minutes at a time within a 2.5-mile radius, reach some scenes in under a minute and hover at 200 feet, which is close enough to zoom in on a license plate, officials said.
The flying metal first-responders are equipped with infrared night vision and thermal imaging cameras, so the aircraft can see in all conditions, track fleeing suspects and scope out an active shooter or barricaded suspect in hostile situations before officers ever set foot on scene, they said.
Officials pushed back on concerns the tech would be invasive to residents’ privacy and serve as “Big Brother’s” eyes and ears on the street.
Residents in Smithtown and other communities complained when their municipalities implemented large-scale camera and plate-reading systems throughout town.
“The drones are not patrolling your backyard, they’re not patrolling your neighborhood, they’re patrolling areas of concern — like a cop does,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told reporters.
The $1 million price tag is being bankrolled by asset forfeiture funds that the county seized from criminal cases, officials said.
Nassau’s program follows neighboring Suffolk County’s rollout, which launched a smaller $600,000 drone first-responder fleet last year, with five drones covering three precincts.