Despite Falling DC Crime Rate, Liberal Authorities Empower Cops to Use Drones, CCTV Cameras and License-plate readers to Constantly Surveil Law Abiding Black People and Put Them in Greater Confinement

From [HERE] D.C. will soon have more eyes in the sky.

The Metropolitan Police Department will start using drones in limited situations to try to protect residents from violent crime. It comes as Mayor Muriel Bowser adds hundreds of closed-circuit TV cameras and license plate readers.

Taking off from its base near the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, Falcon 1 is ready for action. MPD unveiled the $6 million chopper at a press event Monday. The pilot called the helicopter a “game changer” because of its mapping technology and infrared cameras, which can help during car chases.

MPD’s air fleet now includes five drones. Chief of Police Pamela Smith said the drones will not be used for patrol operations but will be used in situations including barricades, crowd management, missing persons cases and major crash reconstruction.

“We will not be using artificial intelligence, and nor will we be using facial recognition with the drones yet,” she said.

Bowser said D.C.’s newly approved budget includes funding for 200 new CC TV cameras and nearly 50 more license-plate readers, which will be added over the next year.