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The civilian Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday approved a one-year pilot program for the use of drones by police in certain situations, despite significant concerns voiced by the public.
The program was approved by a 3-1 vote after commissioners considered guidelines and took public comment.
Steve Soboroff, president of the commission, said before his vote the issue wasn’t about drones.
“The issue is a universal distrust and categorical distrust of the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department,” said Soboroff, shouting above the crowd. “And I have a general trust and respect for the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department, and I will vote for this policy.”
Soboroff’s words came after commissioner Cynthia McClain-Hill said she was opposed to the “difficult” issue.
“I am not satisfied that this department has done what it should do and needs to do in order to build the trust that is required to support the implementation of this technology,” McClain-Hill said.
Meanwhile, commissioner Shane Murphy Goldsmith did not attend the meeting for reasons unclear.
Many in attendance voiced their opposition to the program, and loud chants of “Shame on you!” broke out following the decision while four people were detained and issued citations.
Afterward, some people in the audience briefly blocked Main Street and 1st Street outside of the meeting to protest of the decision.
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The drones would be used by Los Angeles Police Department’s Metropolitan Division SWAT Team to resolve “dangerous, high-risk tactical situations and improve situational awareness capabilities during natural disasters and catastrophic incidents,” according to the draft proposal.
Preceding the meeting, a group of anti-drone protesters stood outside Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters chanting “Drone-free LAPD, no drones LA!”
“Drones and the SWAT team — I mean if you talk about a prescription for unconstitutional policing, those two words say it all. Give some drones to SWAT,” Jim Lafferty of the National Lawyers Guild-LA comments said at the protest. “And mission creep is important to the story.”
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