Syracuse Sun

The City of Syracuse is inviting community feedback on a proposed surveillance technology initiative as part of Mayor Walsh’s Executive Order No. 2. The "Drones as a First Response Program" aims to reduce response times, enhance quality of life, and provide situational awareness for officers.

The proposed system would enable the Police Department to quickly assess situations by providing visual information before officers arrive at the scene. This uncrewed aerial system (UAS) would be deployed in response to 911 calls and incidents reported by officers, including shots fired, search and rescue operations, burglaries, and other high-priority calls.

The department clarifies that the program will not be used proactively to scan for criminal activity but believes it will lead to faster response times and improved resource use while enhancing community safety.

Public comments on the proposed technology are being accepted by the City's Surveillance Technology Working Group from January 30 through February 13. Residents can submit their comments via https://goto.syr.gov/stwg202501.

Mayor Walsh established the Surveillance Technology Executive Order in 2020 to ensure public input on surveillance technologies used by Syracuse. This order outlines policies for oversight regarding how such technologies are funded and utilized safely.

Managed by the Office of Analytics, Performance and Innovation, the working group consists of city staff, community advocates, and experts in technology and ethics. Inquiries about surveillance technology reviews can be directed to https://www.syr.gov/surveillancetech.