RCMP wants drones in every detachment by 2024

The Mounties are looking to add more eyes in the sky by expanding their use of unmanned aircraft.

They want every detachment in Saskatchewan to have a drone by April of next year.

Insp. Devin Pugh with the RCMP’s Support Services Section told Gormley on Tuesday that the police force already has 29 of its 82 detachments supplied with unmanned aircraft, as well as officers who are trained and licensed to use them.

“We’re just continuing that and we’re going to be pushing that out right to every detachment,” Pugh said.

“We’re also right now purchasing some enhanced aircraft systems as well. And by enhanced, what I mean by that is we’re actually utilizing fixed wings. So they’re little miniature airplanes that have a little bit more capacity, a little bit more flight time and (the) ability to support our frontline officers in an air support capacity.”

Pugh said the drones will be put to similar use as the police planes used by the Regina Police Service and the Saskatoon Police Service.

“The difference is, our pilots will be on the ground,” he said.

Pugh also said the drones have similarities to some of the larger ones used by the military.

“This is just a much more effective and efficient way that we can push it out and support frontline policing and enhance community safety in Saskatchewan,” he said.

Pugh said the drones help provide air support for frontline officers, including things like traffic stops, pursuits or situations involving “high-risk” armed suspects that may be barricaded in a home.

Pugh said all of the RCMP’s unmanned aircraft have thermal capacity and high-quality cameras.

“The use of those systems has been just outstanding in regards to locating vulnerable people that have gone missing, being able to track pursuit vehicles that are evading police and being able to apprehend them quickly and providing our officers safety with the public and the suspects a safer option of being apprehended as well,” Pugh said.

Pugh said drones have a wingspan of about eight feet and they resemble miniature airplanes, but they take off vertically like a helicopter.

“When they’re in the air, there’s a flight system that engages with the cruise mode,” he said. “It turns into an aircraft and that’s the efficiency piece. We can be in the air for quite a bit longer and cover off a lot further distance.”

Privacy concerns

Pugh said the RCMP drones will follow the same criteria as other forms of police aircraft, in that they won’t be allowed to look at people in their backyards or in their homes without judicial authorization.

However, Pugh said the drones will be allowed to record in areas for which there is no expectation of privacy like public streets and parking lots.