(WWJ) What is the federal government doing about the mysterious drone sightings across the country? That's what Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard wants to know.
In an open letter sent to Congress on Monday, Bouchard says the threat is real, and he's urging lawmakers to act by regulating drones and enforcing federal aviation laws.
While most of these unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have been spied flying over New Jersey airspace, this week, Audacy station KNX Newsradio in Los Angeles reported that drones have also been seen in Temecula, Calif., near Camp Pendleton. In total, similar drone sightings have been reported across six U.S. states in recent days.
As for what to do about it, Bouchard said they U.S. needs better drone detection and counter-drone capability to avoid a repeat of "the failures of September 11th."
Sheriff Bouchard said he and other law enforcement officials have been trying for years to get counter-drone authority to protect special events and the community. But lawmakers in Washington, according to the sheriff, have not responded.
Bouchard's complete letter reads as follows:
December 16, 2024
"It is long overdue that Washington moves against this clear and present danger. We have been calling it to their attention and asking for authorization and change for many years and have nothing to show for it. One does not need to look far around the world to understand how drones have been used with great devastation in war, terrorism, by the cartels, and by lone bad actors.
"It is easy to weaponize a store-purchased drone and yet, Washington has not provided the necessary authority or tools needed to combat this emerging threat. Let’s just look at the year-to-date statistics on drone incursions and violations: 729,000 airspace violations, 664,000 violations of airport airspace, almost 13,000 flights over power infrastructure, over 14,000 flights over correctional facilities, and well over 12,000 flights over mass events and
entertainment venues. I sincerely hope that we are not holding congressional hearings in the future, asking questions about a devastating drone attack, and having to ponder why nothing was done to prevent it in advance when the capability exists to protect the public from these threats.
"There is a near unanimous belief amongst law enforcement and Department of Homeland Security professionals that we need to have state-of-the-art drone detection and counter-drone capabilities.
"Whether it is a nation-state adversary or a lone individual, the threat is real, and it is here now. The individual who shot President-elect Trump used a drone for pre-operational surveillance. It could have been just as easily used as a secondary or a primary attack device with greater standoff capability.
"The NFL has placed a high priority to get counter-drone capabilities around their venues. While I very much agree with that ability, are their spectators and crowds more worthy of protection than a college football game, a concert, or a hometown parade? If we don’t see threats over the horizon and prepare for them, we are doomed to repeat the failures of September 11.
"New Jersey drone activity has drawn the nation’s attention due to the lack of capability and response, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Washington must give state and local law enforcement the authority to enforce FAA law and regulation on drones as well as authority to intervene when they are committing a crime or pose a threat.
"There are numerous examples of drones being used to smuggle weapons, cell phones, and contraband into prisons and jails. The cartels use them regularly in their trafficking and surveillance operations inside and outside the country. There are numerous videos of sites being attacked with explosives around the world, including jails and correctional facilities. We have
witnessed where life flight helicopters have not been able to land due to drones operating illegally in airspace.
"There have been numerous flight incursions at over 1,400 feet passing our crewed agency aircraft during a critical incident. These, by and large, have been people uneducated or not concerned about following existing rule and law, but we cannot expect to be immune from what we have seen all over the world where drones are used as an attack mechanism. Now that the country is awake to the lack of capability for us to respond, are we so foolish to think our adversaries are not aware of that void as well? Congress must act and the people of America must tell them to do so without delay.
Michael J. Bouchard is the Sheriff of Oakland County, Michigan, and the head of Government Affairs for the Major County Sheriffs of America"
Currently, the FAA's website says drone operators who conduct unsafe or unauthorized operations face fines up to $75,000 per violation, an increase included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
[MORE: Mystery drone sightings continue in New Jersey and across the US. Here's what we know]