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Newport News Police Department
b. If a DFR pilot is not available, a request for the Drone Unit is made, through the Communications
Division.
1) The Drone Unit commander, or designee will respond to the request by contacting the
requesting supervisor to evaluate the request.
2) Once information regarding the request has been collected and evaluated, the commander,
or designee, determines whether the circumstances are appropriate for deployment, based
on legality, safety and weather conditions.
3) Once the commander, or designee, authorizes deployment, on-call team members will be
notified by either the commander/designee or the Communications Division.
5. Transfer of Operations
If a sUAS mission is being operated under the DFR program but the need for sUAS coverage will last
an extended period, the RTCC may contact the Drone Unit Commander to request the operation be
taken over by the Drone Unit for prolonged operation.
6. External Requests
Absent a memorandum of understanding or other standing order, external requests for sUAS support
and/or demonstrations will be made to the Chief of Police, or designee, and will be considered on a
case-by-case basis given the criteria.
7. The sUAS Pilot, RTCC Commander, or Drone Unit commander, have the discretion to deny a
support/demonstration request if it is determined that conditions are not safe to operate the sUAS.
a. All operations will only occur under FAA authorized conditions. This may reduce capabilities
during low light situations and weather conditions that effect visibility.
b. Other existing air traffic in the same area is considered and de-confliction by the pilot or designee
is required.
D. Image Collection/Control
1. Digital Data Captured [83.2.2(a,c)]
a. sUAS operators will ensure the sUAS video surveillance system records are managed under the
criteria of §19.2-60.1 of the Code of Virginia and requirements set out in the Virginia Records
Retention Act.
b. Digital data, including videos and flight information, from the DFR sUAS is stored and maintained
by the vendor for 21 days.
1) The DFR pilot will download evidentiary data and save it to Evidence.com. The case agent is
responsible for ensuring the evidence is saved and properly labeled, and for following up with
the RTCC within 10 days of the flight if the evidence has not already been saved to
Evidence.com.
2) Public safety partners will submit a request for data to the RTCC commander. The RTCC will
evaluate the request and, when appropriate, provide the data in the agreed format.
c. All digital evidence will be uploaded and stored in Evidence.com. Videos will be uploaded and
labelled using guidelines in ADM-570 Body Worn Cameras.
d. Camera systems begin recording when drones are launched. During responses, pilots will
consider people's civil rights and reasonable expectation of privacy. All pilots and observers
will attempt to minimize the intrusion of sUAS operations on the public. DFR pilots should
ensure the sUAS video cameras are pointed forward, not downward while enroute to a call for
service until it arrives in the operating area.
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