The West Grand Neighborhood Organization of Grand Rapids has called for a halt on the local Police department’s intention to acquire police drones. Despite endorsing the concept of drone usage by the police, the organization’s primary concern lies with the transparency and accountability of the technology’s use.

In a letter to the Grand Rapids City Commission on May 16, the organization’s executive director, Annette Vandenberg, wrote, “At this time, we would ask city leaders to pause the process of adopting (purchasing) this technology to allow for further interaction with community groups, more in keeping with the initial engagement efforts referenced when this discussion started.”

The letter reportedly outlined a number of policy amendments the organization would like to see before any drones are purchased.

These include clear guidelines for authorized use and accountability, timely updates of drone usage on a police-provided dashboard, an easy system for…

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Source: dronexl.co