Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

As the Syracuse Police Department moves to implement drone use into its policing strategy, SPD representatives met with the Syracuse City Common Council Public Safety Committee Wednesday to discuss the program’s rollout and protections for civilians.

SPD Deputy Chief Rich Shoff said drones would help the department reduce response times and limit the need for officers to respond in person to “lower priority calls,” such as noise complaints. In many of these instances, officers arrive after the reported incident and involved parties are no longer on the scene.

With limited funding, the initiative could also be an opportunity to cut costs, he said.

“A large number of the (calls) we receive are a no-complainant type of call,” Shoff said. “They just start saying there’s a traffic issue in the area, someone’s being loud, there’s a disturbance, they want to check out calls like that and might wait for a long time for a cop to respond. But a drone can be there in a matter of minutes.”

Throughout the discussion, councilors raised concerns about potential violations of citizens’ privacy. SPD Sergeant Jason Wells, who will oversee drone operations once the policy is finalized, said drones will only be deployed in response to calls and will not be used for general surveillance. Each flight will be logged, including flight paths, time of use and an activity report, which will be accessible to the public on SPD’s website, he said.

Third District Councilor Corey Williams acknowledged the safety benefits of the drones but said residents expect human police presence when calling for help in an emergency. In crisis situations, he said, many people are comforted by the presence of officers.

“(Callers) may not even know the drone did come,” Williams said. “While (police) might identify that call as being a low priority, the person that picks up the phone that got to this point said, ‘I need this intervention.’ It’s not a low priority for them.”

Shoff emphasized the primary role of drones is to assess whether police presence is necessary, not to respond or resolve the complaint directly. Wells echoed that point, adding drone operators would quickly dispatch officers to report to scenes if legitimate threats to public safety are detected, ensuring police operations are more efficient.

During his presentation, Shoff also said the department has already used drones in a few instances, including most recently to help combat brush fires in Syracuse’s Westside neighborhood in late March. To assist firefighters, SPD launched a drone equipped with thermal energy sensors to identify hot spots — or burn areas of particular risk.

In responding to the March 21 Court Street fire, Shoff said drones were used to monitor nearby buildings where firefighters were stationed, allowing drone pilots to alert first responders if the fire spread to their building.

“We were able to assist (the fire department) with that and put them at ease that fire wasn’t going to spark up again,” Shoff said. “They were able to be a little more targeted.”

First District Councilor Marty Nave expressed concerns about the potential for other government authorities to access the drones, noting the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s widespread efforts to locate and deport undocumented immigrants nationally.

Shoff said the policy limits drone use to specific reported complaints and prohibits targeting based on people’s “enumerated characteristics.”

“This way, we can say to the federal government, ‘I think you’re overstepping your bounds and we’re not going to do away with individual rights,’” Nave said.

Councilor-at-large Chol Majok said his concerns with the policy center on ensuring civil liberties are protected in all situations. With drones flying 24 hours a day, Majok, who is also running for mayor, said it would be difficult to regulate and maintain standards for drone usage.

Wells said all drone deployments will be reviewed by himself and other SPD leadership. He called the public documentation of drone use a “check and balance” on the department and city officials.

Though the policy hasn’t yet been officially approved, Wells said it is in its final stages of revision.

The proposal will require approval from both the city and the SPD before it can be enacted, which he said is expected soon.

“I think it makes sense to report more than less,” Wells said. “In the future, we can show exactly what we’re looking at if there are questions. If we start reporting when we arrive on scene, that doesn’t answer (any) questions.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misattributed some quotes from Deputy Chief Rich Scoff to Chief Joe Cecile. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

Published on April 9, 2025 at 10:24 pm
Contact Duncan: digreen@syr.edu