Police propose grant-funded drone program; staff stresses warrants, limited recording and interagency coordination

Police Chief Salt introduced a grant-funded unmanned aerial system (UAS) program and turned the presentation to Sergeant Kinkade, who detailed operational and legal safeguards. "The mission of the program is to protect the lives and property of Hampton citizens while assisting in emergency operations," Sergeant Kinkade said, and he emphasized the intent to avoid random surveillance.

Kinkade described the proposed equipment (the DJI Inspire 1 with day/night camera and optional FLIR thermal camera) and said the unit cost in the presentation is "a little under $15,000," covered by a grant. He explained operational limits: recordings will not be made unless legal thresholds are met (training, exigent emergencies, tactical life-threatening missions, or crime-scene/accident support) and most law-enforcement flights will require a search warrant under Virginia law (Va. Code 19.2-60.1), except for exigent circumstances, consent or specific statutory exceptions (Amber alerts, damage assessment by the public entity). Kinkade added HPD will coordinate flights with Langley Air Force Base, Naval Station Norfolk and Fort Eustis and that the division will maintain imagery with the same controls as other evidentiary digital materials.

Council members asked whether drones could be used at special events to monitor crowd conditions and how quickly authorization could be obtained for an emergency operation; Kinkade said the incident commander could authorize usage where appropriate, and that establishing a FAA Certificate of Authorization and relationships with nearby airfields means emergency operations could be activated quickly (often by radio call to tower/airfield). The chief asked council for a consensus to proceed (not a vote) to move forward for grant purposes; council provided general support.