New Orleans Drones to Fill Officer Gap | New Orleans News

New Orleans is set to launch a bold new drone program later this year to combat its severe officer shortage—down 300 from the target of 1,200. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says drones can reach scenes in minutes, slashing response times and helping solve crimes faster. While experts see clear benefits for public safety, privacy advocates like the ACLU warn of unchecked surveillance. Kirkpatrick counters with local polls showing strong public support for police tech, and points to successful drone use in Jefferson Parish. To build trust, New Orleans will also roll out a live drone dashboard so residents can track deployments in real time. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/734eb63471c5188d