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Newport News Police Department
B. Scope of Operations
1. The DFR program will provide direct support for emergency calls for service and is designed to
provide immediate aerial reconnaissance of priority calls prior to public safety personnel arriving on
scene and to assist in the initial response.
2. The Drone Unit provides broader sUAS support for the police department depending on specific unit
needs for prolonged operations and investigations.
C. Deployment Criteria & Procedure [41.1.3(a); 41.2.5(f,g); 46.2.5; 46.2.7]
1. §19.2-60.1 of the Code of Virgina establishes the criteria for the sUAS deployment by the department.
Department personnel will only deploy a drone during the execution of a search warrant or other
warrant stated in code unless an exception applies. This includes use of the sUAS in areas where there
is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
NOTE: A warrant is not required for purposes other than law enforcement, including damage
assessment, traffic assessment, flood stage assessment, and wildfire assessment. A
warrant is also not required with the consent of the owner, occupant or other person with
actual or apparent authority over the location to be searched.
2. sUAS may be used to provide support in the following situations without a warrant, as authorized
exceptions in §19.2-60.1:
a. When an Amber, Senior, or Blue alert activation occurs.
b. Emergency situations where use of an sUAS is determined as necessary to alleviate immediate
danger to any person.
c. Conducting crash scene imagery when there is an accident where a report is required pursuant
to § 46.2-373.
d. Aerial survey a primary residence of the subject of the arrest warrant to formulate a plan to
execute an existing arrest warrant or capias for a felony offense, or locate a person sought for
arrest when such person has fled from a law-enforcement officer and a law-enforcement officer
remains in hot pursuit of such person
e. To investigate a UAS surrounding or over property of the federal or state government, public
critical infrastructure as defined in § 44-146.28:2, or nongovernment-operated prison or jail
facilities
f. For training exercises related to the above uses.
3. sUAS pilots assigned to the Real-Time Center will actively monitor calls for service within the DFR
operating areas. Pilots evaluate calls for service based on call-type and priority and will deploy an
sUAS to aid the call for service when DFR deployment criteria have been met, as outlined above.
4. If the on-duty supervisor determines that sUAS support is needed, they should first determine if a
DFR pilot is available. DFR pilots will indicate their duty status in CAD, so this information is available
through the Communications Division.
a. If a DFR pilot is available, the supervisor will contact RTCC directly to request assistance.
1) The DFR pilot will speak with the supervisor and evaluate the request based on equipment
availability, capabilities, and whether the circumstances are appropriate for the DFR. If
deemed appropriate, the DFR pilot may launch the drone.
2) If legality, safety and weather conditions are met but the request falls outside of the scope of
the DFR program, a Drone Unit response should be requested through the Communications
Division.
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