Seattle Police Department Unmanned Aerial System Operations Draft Manual [View all]

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Seattle Police Department Unmanned Aerial System Operations Draft Manual


Draft
14 pages
October 2012


The following procedures are intended to promote safe, efficient and lawful operation of the Seattle Police Department’s unmanned aerial system (UAS). Safety, above all else, is the primary concern in each and every operation, regardless of the nature of the mission.

2. Philosophy & Mission Statement

It shall be the mission of those personnel of the Seattle Police Department who are trained in the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), to use this resource to protect the lives and property of citizens and first responders in a constitutionally and legally sound manner. Use of an aerial system can be utilized in circumstances which would save life and property, as well as being able to detect possible dangers that could not otherwise be seen.

The use of UAS’s is quickly growing but had it been available during large catastrophes such as hurricane Katrina, it would have had a large impact on all aspects of emergency response when personnel were in short supply.

UAS’s can support any responder in any all-hazards incident that would benefit from an aerial perspective, Additionally, the UAS would have suitable uses in locating and apprehending subjects, missing persons, search and rescue operations as well as any task that can best be accomplished from the air in an efficient and effective manner.

It shall be the intent of every UAS operator to make reasonable effort to not invade a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy when operating the UAS. When operating the UAS, the Seattle Police Department will abide by all FAA Regulations for flight and receive the proper authorization for flight. Additionally, the need, availability and use of the UAS will not supersede the issuance of a warrant when needed.

3. Protection of Rights and Privacy

UAS unit Commanders, operators and observers will have the protection of citizens civil rights and reasonable expectations of privacy as a key component of any decision made the to deploy the UAS. UAS operators and observers will ensure and will be held accountable for ensuring that operations of the U AS intrude to a minimal extent upon the citizens of Seattle. To accomplish this primary goal we will:


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