The New Orleans Police Department's drone program went operational this month, with an airborne quad-rotor providing support in an "officer-in-need-of-assistance/life-in-danger" scenario on June 9.
"At approximately 5 p.m., NOPD Seventh District officers identified a stolen vehicle and performed surveillance until four subjects fled the vehicle in the 6900 block of Gawain Drive," said NOPD. "Officers pursued them on foot, and a gunshot was heard. Initially, it was believed the suspects were shooting at officers, but it was later confirmed that a dog had been shot."
In that case, cops arrested two suspects, and determined that a third was hiding under a house in the area.
The drone was sent up in the area of Hammond Ave. and Dodt St., providing real-time overhead views of the area (view below). The suspect was located and arrested.
Drone footage also helped NOPD investigate a fatal crash at the I-10/I-610 merge near Metairie last week. Police say the drone helped them re-create the crash (view below).
The NOPD's drone use policy states, "Except for those instances where officer safety or investigation could be jeopardized, if practical, NOPD will notify the public in the area of the flight, using social media, emergency alert systems, and/or any other official means of NOPD communication to the public."
