Abrem A.’s Post

On Wednesday, February 6, 2025, Brookhaven officers received an anonymous tip about illegal drug sales happening in a local parking lot from a black Jeep. Officers quickly responded and requested assistance from the Drone First Responder (DFR) to assess the situation before making contact. Within moments, the drone was overhead, providing real-time video intelligence to officers on the ground. (Take a look at the video. You will see an officer with the drone's livestream visible on his in car computer.) Armed with critical aerial insight, officers moved in safely and efficiently, recovering methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone—potentially saving someone's life from these illicit drugs. This success story is just one example of how drones improve situational awareness, and help us protect the public. But our ability to replicate these successes is at risk. Proposed country-of-origin bans on drones in Georgia could strip law enforcement agencies of a tool that has proven invaluable in crime reduction, officer safety, and emergency response. We can speculate the motives for this legislation but I don't have time for that. I am here to inform those behind this movement that the consequences would be felt by the communities we serve. At Brookhaven PD, we prioritize security, transparency, and operational effectiveness in our drone program. We follow strict cybersecurity protocols and ensure our equipment meets the highest standards. Removing these resources would not make our communities safer—it would do the opposite. I encourage policymakers to engage with the people doing the work on the ground before implementing broad bans that will jeopardize public safety. We need legislation that prioritizes solutions, not setbacks and when it comes to national security that legislation should come from the Congress of the United States. #DronesForGood #DroneAsFirstResponder #BrookhavenPD #SmartLegislation