As NOPD prepares to expand its use of drones through the Drone as First Responder program, the department is giving the public a clearer look at how that technology is being used.

NOPD’s new public-facing drone dashboard is now live, allowing residents to see drone activity, including when and why drones are deployed. The dashboard can be viewed by visiting https://cloud.skydio.com/dashboard/nopd.

Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the goal is to use technology to improve public safety while keeping transparency and privacy at the center.

“We should police smarter with technology. But we also understand the privacy concerns. The goal is to strike the right balance, put the right guardrails in place and be as transparent with our community as possible.”

Superintendent Kirkpatrick also pointed to a community survey commissioned earlier this year by the Police & Justice Foundation. The survey found strong support across Black and white residents for NOPD’s use of technology to solve crime, including:

• 89% of white respondents and 87% of Black respondents supported increased use of analytics and other technology.
• 81% of white respondents and 77% of Black respondents supported increased legal use of camera technology.
• 60% of white respondents and 72% of Black respondents supported facial recognition technology.

Superintendent Kirkpatrick said technology is also an important force multiplier as NOPD continues rebuilding manpower.

“We can put a drone up and get to some areas much faster than we can get a patrol car there. That means we can get information quicker and get help to people faster.”

NOPD has already used drones during major incidents, searches for missing people and other public-safety situations. The new dashboard brings existing drone activity and the upcoming DFR program into one public-facing system.

“The community supports technology,” Superintendent Kirkpatrick said. “They also expect us to use it legally, ethically and responsibly.”

NOPD will continue sharing information as the department moves toward the formal launch of DFR

Have a question or correction? Please email NOPD’s Public Affairs Division at nopdpio@nola.gov.