Drones in Law Enforcement: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
摘要
Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have rapidly become integral to law enforcement, enhancing search-and-rescue operations, tactical responses, traffic enforcement, crowd monitoring, and crime-scene investigations. Their ability to deliver real-time aerial intelligence improves situational awareness and officer safety while reducing operational costs. Advances in imaging and analytics further expand investigative capabilities. Yet increasing adoption raises significant legal and ethical concerns, including privacy, data retention, incidental sensitive-data collection, and Fourth Amendment implications. Regulatory limits, especially on beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights, continue to shape deployment. This chapter evaluates these opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the need for clear, accountable policy frameworks.