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Alabama interim committee hears law-enforcement praise for drones, debates procurement limits as federal deadline nears
Summary
State law-enforcement officials told a Joint Interim Committee that DJI drones are vital to policing and public safety, while cybersecurity and procurement advocates pressed for frameworks that avoid an abrupt 'rip-and-replace' of equipment ahead of a possible federal determination and FCC restrictions.
MONTGOMERY — State and industry witnesses told a Joint Interim Committee that drones have become an essential tool for Alabama law enforcement but said a fast ban on widely used foreign-made models would disrupt public-safety operations.
Agent Joe Hamilton, identified in the meeting as an SBI agent, told the committee his unit conducts roughly 2,100–2,200 law-enforcement drone missions a year across all 67 counties and uses the devices for traffic-homicide investigations, search-and-rescue and event and storm response. Hamilton said his unit maintains 23 trained operators and a fleet of 46 drones, and integrates every flight into the agency’s GIS to record location, pilot and duration.
"It’s the greatest offering since the Glock," Hamilton said of drones’ contribution to officer safety and scene documentation, describing examples where aerial mapping reduced scene processing from hours to 20–30…
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