St. Louis police could start drone responses to 911 calls Friday

St. Louis police could begin sending drones to some 911 calls as soon as Friday, if the Board of Police Commissioners approves the department’s operating policy Wednesday. The six remotely operated aircraft would transmit live video to the Real-Time Crime Center, potentially helping officers assess emergencies, locate people in need of help and identify threats before they arrive. The proposed rules prohibit routine or indiscriminate surveillance, bar discriminatory targeting and prohibit facial-recognition technology without a new policy; the department also plans to let the public track drone flight paths. Privacy advocates welcomed the limits but raised concerns about data retention, later use of recordings and monitoring protests. Police Chief Robert Tracy said the fleet could grow with federal funding, though the department has not yet learned how much it may receive.