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Labor shortages and costs are a red herring here: an NYPD officer makes more than the average New Yorker on their first day[1][2], and there are around 36,000 o

Labor shortages and costs are a red herring here: an NYPD officer makes more than the average New Yorker on their first day[1][2], and there are around 36,000 of them, most of whom are expected to be doing things like responding to noise complaints already. Besides: it's not like we're talking about autonomous drones here, and it's not like a drone can write a noise ticket. I doubt the city is saving any time or personnel by using drones here; if anything, there's likely some sweet overtime (in the form of "drone training") available for cops who pilot these things rather than making door calls. [1]: https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/careers/police-officers/po-benefits.page https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/careers/police-officers/po-ben... [2]: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/--in-New-York https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/--in-New-York

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
Drones require labor to operate, but it’s not one to one. More like one operator for a bunch of drones.
- woodruffw 3y ago
  The latest public training figure I can find (which are very old) indicate that 29 NYPD officers have been trained to operate 14 drones[1]. That's around 2.1 cops per drone. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/nyregion/nypd-drones.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/nyregion/nypd-drones.html
  - seanmcdirmid 3y ago
    Pretty sure they aren’t all using the drones at the same time. Even then, the program has just started, and officers getting drone certs doesn’t mean piloting drones is anywhere near their full time job. I also doubt that the tech won’t get better and more autonomous as time goes on, and I would guess that the department is just trying to get early experience on an obvious future trend. Also, for tracking a suspect in a chase, a drone is surely more economical than a helicopter with two pilots.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

Drones require labor to operate, but it’s not one to one. More like one operator for a bunch of drones.

woodruffw 3y ago
The latest public training figure I can find (which are very old) indicate that 29 NYPD officers have been trained to operate 14 drones[1]. That's around 2.1 cops per drone. [1]: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/nyregion/nypd-drones.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/nyregion/nypd-drones.html
- seanmcdirmid 3y ago
  Pretty sure they aren’t all using the drones at the same time. Even then, the program has just started, and officers getting drone certs doesn’t mean piloting drones is anywhere near their full time job. I also doubt that the tech won’t get better and more autonomous as time goes on, and I would guess that the department is just trying to get early experience on an obvious future trend. Also, for tracking a suspect in a chase, a drone is surely more economical than a helicopter with two pilots.