Inclement Weather Grounds NYPD Security Drones During NYE
The New York Police Department was forced to cancel plans to use drones as part of its security protocol during the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebrations due to rain.
- By Jessica Davis
- Jan 03, 2019
The New York Police Department was forced to cancel plans to use drones as part of its security protocol during the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebrations due to rain.
The department had planned to use camera-equipped drones to monitor the massive crowds ringing in 2019 in Times Square. It would have been the NYPD’s first time using drones for security at a large-scale event.
NYPD Chief Terence Monahan confirmed via Twitter that the department would not be using its drones during the event due to the rain and wind. The bad weather risked malfunction and instability of the drones.
The NYPD’s drone equipment includes 11 DJI Mavic Pro quadcopters, two DJI Matrice 210 TDK quadcopters and one DJI Inspire 2 quadcopter. When the department first announced that it planned to use drones in its New Year’s Eve security coverage, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said the machines would offer “visual aid and flexibility”.
About the Author
Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.