In what has to be the most ludicrous excuse ever made by police to spy on citizens, this one is at the top of my list.
Last month the Riverhead Police Department in New York and town officials claimed that drones, increased foot patrols and surveillance cameras would help revitalize downtown.
The headline reads, "Drones, police foot patrols, more floated to uplift Riverhead's downtown."
How do officials plan to change the public's "perception of safety"?
Smith claims that police drones will “create more of a community connection in the area. More eyes and ears in the area, will hopefully lead to more people coming to shop and recreate in downtown more.”
To claim that surveillance drones will "create more of a community connection" is a new low by anyone's standards. [ I am referring to you, DHS.]
Three questions about police surveillance drones that need to be asked.
1.) Will the police use Riverhead's, electric-powered Luminati Aerospace drones to revitalize downtown?
2.) Will the police use "Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications" drones that can fly over downtown for hours without being recharged?
Police used drones to spy on music festivalgoers
Claiming police surveillance drones will revitalize downtowns is a portend of what's to come.