Baton Rouge Military Surveillance Drone Acquisition
- The Baton Rouge Police Department this week announced it will begin using a drone designed by Lockheed Martin and Edge Autonomy, making it one of the first local...
- The move is a troubling advancement given the long history of local law enforcement acquiring military-grade surveillance equipment.
- Baton Rouge purchased the Stalker VXE30 from Edge Autonomy, which partners with Lockheed Martin.
The Baton Rouge Police Department this week announced it will begin using a drone designed by Lockheed Martin and Edge Autonomy, making it one of the first local police departments to deploy an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a history of primary use in foreign war zones. This represents a risky escalation in the militarization of local law enforcement.
The move is a troubling advancement given the long history of local law enforcement acquiring military-grade surveillance equipment. It should serve as a warning to communities nationwide to proactively ensure drones are acquired and used transparently, with public input.
Baton Rouge purchased the Stalker VXE30 from Edge Autonomy, which partners with Lockheed Martin. The company began operating under the brand Redwire this week. According to WBRZ ABC2 in Louisiana, the drone, training, and batteries cost approximately $1 million.
The standard concerns surrounding drone use apply to this new deployment in Baton Rouge:
- Drones can access and view areas normally off-limits to law enforcement, including backyards and private property.
- Footage captured by drones might potentially be stored and shared beyond the initial flight.
- Additional surveillance technology,such as facial recognition,can be added to the drone.