In a move that is being hailed as the future of law enforcement, agencies across Colorado's mountainous Front Range region are preparing to unleash a new tool in their arsenal: drones. At least 20 agencies in the area currently utilize drone technology for specific tasks such as search and rescue operations, tracking fleeing suspects, mapping crime scenes, and providing aerial surveillance during SWAT operations. However, a new frontier is on the horizon as the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office contemplates using drones to handle some 911 calls, providing valuable information from the scene before deploying officers on the ground.

"This really is the future of law enforcement at some point, whether we like it or not," said Sgt. Jeremiah Gates, head of the drone program at the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. Gates envisions a scenario where drones could be dispatched to less urgent calls, allowing officers to focus their attention on more critical situations. "I could fly the drone over [a reported suspicious vehicle] and say, 'Hey, that vehicle is not out of place,' and I never had to send an officer over to bother them and I can clear it with that," he explained. "It's saving resources."

The potential benefits of drone deployment are undeniable. In addition to conserving precious personnel and resources, drones can provide law enforcement with a bird's-eye view of a scene, allowing for a more informed and tailored response. However, as with any new technology, concerns have been raised regarding privacy and the potential for overreach.

Laura Moraff, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado, expressed apprehension about the implications of widespread drone usage by government agencies on individual freedoms. "We're worried about what it would mean if drones were really just all over the skies in Colorado," Moraff said. "We are worried about what that would mean for First Amendment activities, for speech and organizing and protesting – because being surveilled by law enforcement, including by drones, can change the way people speak and protest."

The ACLU's concerns are not unfounded. In 2013, former Denver Police Chief Robert White rejected the use of drones over constitutional concerns, and in 2018, the department shelved its sole drone, effectively halting the program in Denver even as close to 20 metro police agencies embraced the unmanned aircraft.

While the Denver Police Department (DPD) has a detailed policy on drone use, including a section on "Drones as a First Responder Program," the details of how such a program would operate remain vague. This lack of transparency has fueled concerns among civil rights advocates like Moraff, who worries that police departments may start using drones within set guardrails but then secretly expand the use of the technology beyond what is legal or appropriate as drones become more ubiquitous.

"The cheaper this technology gets, and the easier it gets to deploy, the more risk there is that it will be used everywhere, and used in circumstances when it is not necessary," Moraff said, emphasizing the need for law enforcement agencies to be transparent about how and when they use drones, and to listen to residents about what they want in a drone program.

The ACLU acknowledges that there are legitimate uses for drones in policing, particularly in response to specific, serious incidents. However, Moraff cautions that agencies must ensure they are operating within the law. "Safety and security are not just about reducing crime, prosecuting people and finding evidence," she said. "A truly safe community is one in which people are free to express their views, to organize together and live their lives without unjustified government intrusion."

As law enforcement agencies across Colorado forge ahead with plans to integrate drones into their operations, a delicate balance must be struck between embracing new technologies and safeguarding civil liberties. The potential benefits of drone deployment are undeniable, but without proper oversight, transparency, and accountability, the very freedoms that law enforcement agencies are sworn to protect could be compromised.

The debate over the use of drones in law enforcement is likely to intensify as the technology becomes more advanced and ubiquitous. It will be up to policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and the public to engage in an open and honest dialogue to ensure that the pursuit of public safety does not come at the expense of individual privacy and constitutional rights.

As Colorado stands on the precipice of this new frontier, the eyes of the nation will be watching to see how these challenges are navigated and whether a balance can be struck between the future of law enforcement and the preservation of civil liberties.