There are five fundamental areas that an operational plan for UAS use should address and it is vital that these plans be made in advance and provided to the public, media, and policymakers for review, input, and understanding.
Developing an Operating Plan
At a minimum, an operating plan should address:
Determine what the department is going to do with the sUAS, be specific, and draw up those protocols in writing. The plan should also include clear delineations on what the sUAS will NOT do.
Research and explain the laws and regulations that govern law enforcement use of UAS. Doing so will let the public know that you understand the limits of use. Include reference to constitutional protections, state legislation, municipal code, industry standards, open government laws, and departmental policy as it applies to UAS.
Develop a working plan that details who will operate the sUAS and when; how they will be trained; what measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the operators and the public; and how adherence to the plan will be documented. The plan should outline in detail how the decision to deploy the sUAS will be made, who will make it, and what limits will be put on its use.
Decide what data is going to be collected (photos, video, environmental monitoring). Define how the data will be used – for investigations, accident or crime scene reconstruction, or even possible court cases. Set a time limit on how long the data will be held and determine who will have access to the data while it is maintained and how the data will be destroyed.
It is important that the community be aware that the issues above are being carefully addressed. Ensure that all information regarding UAS data collection is made available to community members in an easily accessible format and location. Explore the creation of forums for the community to hear about the project status and to communicate suggestions and concerns.
Developing Departmental UAS Policy, Procedure, and Guidelines
Any use of force involving a UAS, including weaponization.
Generalized patrol and intelligence gathering missions.
Data-driven information gathering, such as crowd monitoring or estimating during peaceful demonstrations, or revenue-generating such as monitoring traffic or parking areas.
While there is no model policy that can meet all the needs of every law enforcement agency, there are important considerations and steps that every agency should take in developing solid policy for a department’s use of sUAS.
Important considerations and steps in developing departmental sUAS policy include:
Many state laws and regulations (in addition to federal ones) will impact how departmental policy is written. A strong legal foundation, along with an understanding of community concerns about privacy and safety should be the blueprint for permitted use of UAS.
Staffing and Training the sUAS Team
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), Part 107 only requires one sUAS crew member – a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC). The use of additional team members, however, is encouraged to ensure that the aircraft remains within sight, avoids obstacles or other aircraft while in operation, and is able to conduct the mission efficiently and effectively.
Important considerations include:
Although only a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) is required by the FAA, additional personnel may include a visual observer, and a person who manipulates the controls of the sUAS, under direct supervision of the RPIC. The supervisor of the sUAS team and the RPIC should confer during preflight planning to determine the minimum number of personnel required to safely and effectively conduct the flight.
Agencies that have existing sUAS programs have a clear chain of command outlining who will decide when the sUAS is to be used and under what conditions flight missions should be aborted; what measures will be taken to protect the safety of the operators and the public; and how adherence to the plan will be communicated to the media.
While not required by Part 107, law enforcement agencies are encouraged to fly in a designated remote area until the sUAS team achieves proficiency in flight operations. The sUAS team also needs to fly the system with sufficient frequency to maintain proficiency.
Focus on the Field
Standard operating procedures for Arlington, TX Police Department list a Special Operations Commander, Team Leader, Assistant team Leader, Pilot in Command, Observer, and Camera and Remote Sensing Operator as integral personnel in a sUAS team, all with clearly defined roles. The Mesa County (CO) Sheriff’s Office requires that the request to fly a sUAS be made by a sergeant or higher level executive. The officer in charge of the unit is a specialist in sUAS use with flight training.
Standard operating procedures for Arlington, TX Police Department list a Special Operations Commander, Team Leader, Assistant team Leader, Pilot in Command, Observer, and Camera and Remote Sensing Operator as integral personnel in a sUAS team, all with clearly defined roles. The Mesa County (CO) Sheriff’s Office requires that the request to fly a sUAS be made by a sergeant or higher level executive. The officer in charge of the unit is a specialist in sUAS use with flight training.