Board Of Supervisors Asks Inspector General To 'Gather More Information' About The Aircraft

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has asked the county Inspector General to look into the use of unmanned aircraft by the law enforcement in the county.

The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the inquiry was requested as a response to concerns about the use of the aircraft by law enforcement. Supervisor Hilda Solis said that the overall goal is to provide more transparency about the drone program to the public.

In her motion to launch the inquiry, Solis said while the aircraft can be an asset to law enforcement in protecting the public and officers, and they deserve broad support from the public, " past experience has led to valid concern that the devices, sometimes called drones, can be used for more controversial purposes. Drones have been used to carry weapons by the military and so even the name is a matter of debate. Flying cameras, whether remotely controlled or not, have in the past been used for warrantless surveillance and sometimes without notice to the public.”

Last week, A group of protesters called on the county government to place a prohibition on the use of the aircraft by the LA County Sheriff's Department, according to the report.

The controversy stems back to 2012, when the Sheriff's Office flew a surveillance drone over the City of Compton without notifying the public or the Mayor. In a news conference, Sheriff Jim McDonnell said that the FAA had approved the use of the aircraft by the department, and it was not their intent to "spy on the public. The public will be able to easily identify the unmanned aircraft when it is deployed. It is clearly and brightly marked,” he said.

FMI: https://oig.lacounty.gov, http://sheriff.lacounty.gov