Windsor Police Service remotely piloted aircraft system, October 2, 2019.  (Photo by Maureen Revait) Windsor Police Service remotely piloted aircraft system, October 2, 2019. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

Windsor police using drones

The Windsor Police Service now has Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems at their disposal.

The drones will be used in tactical operations to help locate missing persons, to take aerial shots of crime scenes and accidents or to assist during a weapons call.

Windsor police say it will not be used for traffic stops, for random patrolling or surveillance.

"The two main areas are going to be a tactical deployment or ultimately public safety," says Staff Sergeant Sue Garrett.

Police Chief Pam Mizuno says it will only be used to lawfully gather intelligence.

"We will only use it for the purposes we are lawfully allowed to use it for. Anything that we could do without the RPAS or can't do without an RPAS the same rules apply," says Mizuno.

That means if they needed a warrant to search a property or look in someone's backyard before they still need to get that warrant before using the drone.

The Windsor Police Service trained six officers to pilot and deploy the units.

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