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Newport News Police Department
OPERATIONAL MANUAL
OPS - 615 – UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
Amends/Supersedes: OPS-615 (6/16/2025) Date of Issue: 05/11/2026
I. GENERAL
A. The Newport News Police Department maintains a Drone Response Unit consisting of specially trained
personnel responsible for providing aerial support for department operations. The department also
operates a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, through the Real Time Crime Center. This policy
includes information relative to both.
B. Use of unmanned aircraft by the department will occur within the limits and guidelines set by the Federal
Aviation Administration, federal and state legal requirements, and individual statutory and
constitutional rights. See also: Virginia Code: [4.1.1.3(b)]
1. §15.2-926.3 Local regulation of certain aircraft.
2. §18.2-121.3 Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system.
3. §18.2-324.2 Use of unmanned aircraft system for certain purposes.
4. §19.2-60.1 Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required.
C. The unmanned aircraft owned or leased by the department, and all digital media or data captured, are
the property of the City of Newport News. Unmanned aircraft deployment is restricted to authorized
operational activities, department training and community demonstration. The following prohibitions
apply:
1. Personal use of any department unmanned aircraft is prohibited.
2. Use for surveillance or investigative activities without appropriate legal authorization.
3. Use that in any way violates constitutional protections, federal law, state statutes or local ordinances.
D. The department will facilitate public access to DFR community portal via the city’s website. DFR pilots
complete daily flight logs documenting all missions, which are posted to the community portal within 24
hours of the log’s submission.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COW): An authorization issued by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to a public operator for a specific unmanned aerial activity.
B. Small UAS (sUAS): A UAS utilizing a UA weighing less than 55 pounds, and which is consistent with
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations governing model aircraft.
C. Department Certified DFR Pilot: licensed drone pilots who have completed department specified DFR
program training and are authorized to pilot DFR missions.
D. Drone as First Responder (DFR): A program that deploys sUAS from set locations in the City of Newport
News, to rapidly respond to and evaluate calls for service, and relay information to responders.
III. PROCEDURE – DEPLOYMENT OF DEPARTMENT sUAS
A. All sUAS operations are conducted according to this policy, the Drone Unit SOP or the Drone as First
Responder SOP, based on which unit is conducting the operation.
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