Kingston police to add drones to investigation team

City of Kingston Police will soon be using drones to help with their investigations. The proposal was pitched to the force two years ago by Const. Darren Keuhl.

“It’s already being used by other police agencies so we are not reinventing it,” says Keuhl.

Kingston police plan to use drones in search and rescue operations, as well as criminal and collision investigations. Officers say aerial views of fires and natural disasters will also be valuable additions.

“We put officers on the ground to walk an area, so if we have a bigger area, we can actually scan the area, and maybe find a piece of evidence that’s tied into a crime scene, rooftops, tops of sheds etc., where you wouldn’t normally be able to get an officer,” says Keuhl.

Beyond the benefits, the technology has some potential drawbacks, says Jeff Reitzel, founder of Kingston drone company SkEye Stream. These drawbacks include battery failure, a bird flying into it and “there is a possibility of the drone of having a mind of its own and flying away.”

But the biggest concern involves public privacy, will these drones be an eye in the sky, keeping a constant eye on the Kingston community?

“Currently with any police investigation we won’t invade privacy, we would do it legally. So if we used this system for any type of investigation it would be done legally,” says Keuhl.

“I’m really happy to see that the Kingston police has embraced this type of technology. It’s something that’s going to continue to help keep the community safe,” says Keuhl.

Kingston police hope to launch drones in about two months, after selected officers are trained and certified.