SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Santa Fe Police Department has reported significant success with its drone program, which has been instrumental in tracking down and apprehending criminals.
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In a recent incident, a drone was crucial in the arrest of Bernie Nazario Trujillo, who attempted to flee from officers after a robbery connected to a drug deal. The drone enabled officers to locate and apprehend Trujillo and four other suspects quickly. Valdez praised the skill of his team and the rapid development of their drone-operating abilities, stating, “This last arrest is a testament to the work that our guys do and the amount of skill that they’ve been able to develop in a short time.”
Drones have become a vital tool for the Santa Fe Police Department over the past two years. With nine FAA-certified pilots, the department utilizes drones for various purposes, including crime scene documentation, the apprehension of dangerous individuals, and open area searches. “Having that extra set of eyes in the sky gives us a really good advantage,” Valdez explained. “We can look at our deployment strategy to make sure that we can safely apprehend those individuals and hold them accountable.”
The cost-effectiveness of drones compared to helicopters has also been highlighted by the department. Valdez noted that the expenses associated with purchasing and certifying a helicopter are significantly higher than those for drones. “There’s no way we could have bought a helicopter or even certify one of our staff as a pilot at that cost,” he said.
However, the use of drones by law enforcement has raised concerns among civil liberties organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has warned that without strong privacy protections, drone usage could lead to ‘mass surveillance’. In response, Santa Fe Police emphasized their strict rules regarding drone deployment to protect citizens’ privacy. Valdez expressed the department’s commitment to utilizing technology responsibly to serve the community and ensure public safety.
Valdez concluded, “In today’s day and age, we have to see what technology exists and how we can utilize that to protect and serve our community and keep people safe.”
