Police are using current drone technology to their advantage, the Air Force not so much

In Portsmouth, NH, police are using drones for safety purposes. Being a local NH native myself, I really thought about how these drones are being used and if they should be used. I understand the idea of using these drones. To keep more people safe and they are very useful, as one model takes infrared photos from up to 200 feet in the air able to see someone in a building below. Drone technology is evolving and being used more and more. 

Personally, I don't really like the idea of using drones as much. I think it would be a good idea to use them to find people or help solve issues, but drones can malfunction and cause issues that can be prevented if drones weren't used. 

Image of police drone

Not only are local police using drones more now, but so is the US Air Force. The only difference is, the Air Force is trying to not use drones anymore. Months ago, Iran shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz. The military is thinking that drones are becoming a liability and they are getting destroyed to easily. However, this is not the main reason for the Air Force wanting to retire these drones. It is the budget. The drones are too expensive in the first place, not to mention they aren't very reliable.

Image of RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone 

Seeing how much technology is increasing and how drones are being used more often is something that I understand but it concerns me. We can't get too dependent on these because if things go bad, then what? Seeing that Air Force doesn't want to use them anymore due to budget reasons shows that there are better more important ways to keep people safe and still handle business. For me personally, I think drones should be used, but used in smart ways that are safe and affordable. 

Works Cited

Dinan, Elizabeth. "New Hampshire Town Launches New Police Drone Squad ." Government Technology.com , e.Republic , 25 Nov. 2019, www.govtech.com/public-safety/New-Hampshire-Town-Launches-New-Police-Drone-Squad.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2019.

Heitzman, Deana. A U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Lands at Misawa Air Base for a Temporary Intra-Theater Routine Deployment In Japan. 1 June 2018. Foreign Policy.com , 18 Nov. 2019, foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/18/china-pentagon-global-hawk-drone/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2019.

Seligman, Lara. "With an Eye toward China, Pentagon Weighs Slashing Global Hawk Drone." Foreign Policy.com , 18 Nov. 2019, foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/18/china-pentagon-global-hawk-drone/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2019.