It’s the latest tool in Alberta policing — Mounties are now remote-piloting drones. One flying near Cochrane is controlled at RCMP headquarters in Edmonton — about 250 kilometres away.
“It just greatly enhances our ability to police, especially the rural areas,” said Staff Sgt. Brad Butland.
It’s a technology that militaries have been using for years. Right now it’s just a pilot project — but the goal is to bring these units to a detachment near you.
“It just gives us a leg up on that suspect that’s trying to evade us on the ground,” said Sgt. Butland.
Drones are just one of the ways law enforcement is evolving. Police in Edmonton have now turned off their dashcams. Instead, 286 officer-worn bodycams are set to hit the streets next month. The police chief says there’s a simple reason it’s one or the other.
“Money. We don’t have the resources, or the Human Resources to do both,” said Edmonton’s police chief Dale McFee.
With 1,900 members, only 15 per cent of Edmonton officers will have the cameras at first. The chief says most will have bodycams within 18 months. The province has decided that, eventually, all police in Alberta will wear them.
“Technology is not going away. And I think it just enhances our ability to do our jobs,” said Sgt. Butland.
At the same time, the province is also promising to get rid of other law-enforcement cameras. Photo radar, specifically. The transportation minister has called some of them a “cash cow.” He is planning to discontinue photo radar in as many as 2,200 locations.
“Taking something away, generally, at a time when we need enforcement, generally isn’t a good idea. But that said, if it’s looking at it by location then I would hope you’re looking at statistics by location, and you can use other locations,” said McFee.
As for the remote-piloted drones, the RCMP has just two so far. Mounties say they hope to expand it to detachments across the province. Of course, that will take money but also regulatory changes to allow them to fly further.