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Police Recording Confirms NYPD Flew At a Drone and Never Feared Crashing

Jason Koebler (3528235) writes An air traffic control recording confirms that a New York Police Department helicopter flew at a drone hovering near the George Washington Bridge earlier this week—not the other way around. What's more, police had no idea what to charge the drone pilots with, and never appeared to fear a crash with the drone.
Two men were arrested Monday on felony reckless endangerment charges after the NYPD said the two flew their drone "very close" to a law enforcement chopper, causing the police helicopter to take evasive maneuvers. Air traffic control recordings suggest that only happened after the chopper pilot decided to chase the drone.

21 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. So by afidel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So when are reckless endangerment charges going to be filed against the pilot? He intentionally steered his craft towards an object that they admit through their own filings presented a risk of a crash.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    1. Re:So by sabri · · Score: 5, Informative

      How is it reckless endangerment when the police were supposed to be in the area and did their job by investigating something suspicious?

      Basic VFR separation guidelines still apply, even to a police helicopter.

      --
      I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
    2. Re:So by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They lied about the drone flying at and following the helicopter. It was, in fact the helicopter that flew recklessly at the drone. IOW, the NYPD falsified their report in order to make an arrest.

    3. Re:So by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So... they filed a false report.
        Fire them and press charges. We can't have the police lying on reports.

    4. Re:So by Runaway1956 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      *sigh* I just wasted moderator points - just posting to negate the effects . . . .

      Since I'm here, I'll point out that cops do the same thing on the ground. They chase you, maybe you're doing 80 or 90, but the cop exceeds 100 mph catching up to you. The police report states that the chase exceeded 100 mph, and the judge looks at that, and throws several books at you.

      It would be great if cops were trustworthy.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    5. Re:So by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yet we will not see perjury charges against them. How quaint.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    6. Re:So by sabri · · Score: 5, Informative

      Since I'm here, I'll point out that cops do the same thing on the ground.

      But they are not. And while they are police officers, they generally have no authority in the air. What flies in the air is all subject to the FAA and a regular officer (even those flying a police helicopter to assist ground units) are limited to FAA rules and regulations.

      Unlike ground vehicles, a police helicopter will not be exempt from FAA flight rules and regulations. If the pilot is flying VFR, he is to maintain VFR separation from other flying objects, whether they are in the air lawful or not. The reasoning behind this is obviously that if he fails to do so and somehow crashes into it, his badge will not protect anyone on the ground from getting hurt from the crashing helicopter or whatever object he flies into.

      Furthermore, his badge will give him police authority, but the FAA can simply revoke his pilot's license and ground him.

      --
      I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
    7. Re:So by sjames · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Filing the false report is the first charge. Next up, unlawful imprisonment. Next up, reckless endangerment of everyone around them who could have been injured/killed (they themselves said it was a very dangerous situation, they don't get to say it was no big deal now). Finally, federal penalties for violating FAA rules and regulations. Perhaps the pilot should have his license suspended.

      If NYPD is a police force rather than organized crime, they will see to it that all of the above happens AND release the men they arrested with deepest apologies.

  2. Incoming South Park Reference by DeathByLlama · · Score: 5, Funny

    /// Drone hovers lazily next to the river ///
    NYPD: It's coming right for us! *BANG BANG BANG*

    Every drone is an imminent threat.

  3. Obligatory painful comment by Uberbah · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I guess every story has at least one.

    So, the cop saw someone breaking the law, gave chase, and then they're the bad guys because the suspect tried to ram them?

    No, you twit. They're bad guys for lying about it.

    No drone, or "remotely piloted aircraft" in DoD newspeak, should be flown over a populated area.

    Charge them for what they did do, not make shit up about what they didn't do. This isn't hard.

  4. Re:Obligatory Car Analogy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No, they're bad guys because they falisified a fucking police report.

  5. Re:Yay big government! by itsenrique · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sorry, I'll bite. The problem is that the "anti-tax" people that are elected (and electable in the future) are not against giving more money and power to the police in general. And neither are the "pro-tax" people. This isn't about money. It's about power and authoritarian over-reach. You could take away their choppers and tanks and cut salaries but that wouldn't address the underlying issues. By trying to steer this into a conversation about taxes you fail to see the very real problems with police brutality, corruption, lying, profiling, and on and on. Now, back on topic...

  6. So... by saleenS281 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The cops who falsified their reports are going to jail, right? If I am found falsely testifying under oath, that's my sentencing. What? They'll get off with a slap on the wrist and *MAYBE* a week's paid vacation? I wonder why citizens distrust police in this country.

  7. Re:Obligatory Car Analogy by cdrudge · · Score: 5, Interesting

    No drone, or "remotely piloted aircraft" in DoD newspeak, should be flown over a populated area.

    So would flying them over a large body of mostly unoccupied water be ok? Like perhaps a river that's 2/3 of a mile wide?

  8. Re:Obligatory Car Analogy by EmagGeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is legal because there is no Law against it.

    Everything is legal that is not prohibited by a Law.

    Laws are a blacklist, not a whitelist, just like the Constitution is a blacklist of things government is not allowed to do, not a whitelist of things Citizens ARE allowed to do.

  9. Re:Typical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember 9-11? Along with all those poor FDNY guys who died, a few cops got taken out also actually helping people - not many - but a few.

    There were TONS of memorials and honors given to the New York Firemen who died, but NOTHING for the NY police who did.

    I wonder why.

    Agreeing with you: By and large, cops are cowards. They're #1 priority is making sure "they get home safe". They are a bunch of backstabbing murderers as attested to by every cop who has never filed complaints with IA against other officers because "They need to make sure they have each others' backs". If your partner will murder you because you truthfully testify that he lies on his timesheet, that mofo should not be a cop with a gun. Interactions with cops generally is a bad experience. They've even gone to the Supreme court to demand they NOT be obligated to protect people:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia

    Contrast that with the fire department. Sure, there are corrupt fire inspectors and crap, but there's no red/blue wall of silence about it. If I'm passed out from smoke inhalation and the guy breaking down the door and carrying me to safety wants to lighten my wallet while another is doing the CPR thing, I'm AOK with that.

  10. Re:Yay big government! by lgw · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Government, police, etc will always be corrupt. Always. People are people. The only defense is to give them just barely enough resources to do their job, with no excess or space for overreach. It's all about taxes - taxes are the only practical weapon the common voter has against government overreach, and the Constitution was written with this fundamental truth firmly in mind.

    Of course, of all of Congress there are but a handful of congresscritters who actually are for less government spending, and usually the voter's choice is merely between which group of supporters the tax money will go to. That's a cultural problem in the US, and we can't begin to fix it until every call for lower taxes stops being dismissed with "you anarchist and probable racist, why do you want 0 government".

    Fixing the problem starts with popular acceptance of the idea that one can say we're sending too much without being some extremist calling for the end of government. Less does not mean none - spread the word!

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  11. Re:Yay big government! by FrozenToothbrush · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What you're describing takes a fundamental change in the human condition of most people. Money and taxes are an enabler for those who are pro-authoritarian. I don't think the original posters thought should be dismissed so coldly.

  12. Re:Obligatory Car Analogy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The US Constitution is not a black list it is a white list. It is a document stating which powers The People give the government. This idea has been lost on many people, and I believe is the source of many of the problems we see.

  13. Re:Fix this like we fix education by visualight · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're a god damn idiot, trying to tie this to sex education in schools and labor unions. Not everything wrong in the world is connected to the handful of issues that literally define your identity. An identity made for you by the likes of the Heritage Foundation, Freedomworks, and Americans For Prosperity ( and dozens more ).

    I swear, for most of my life I've tried to be gentle when it comes to politics and religion, but look what that's got us. People like you who troll forums and try to find every opportunity to regurgitate the propaganda you're too stupid to see through.

    Next time you feel like stretching the current topic into a place where you can insert a not-so-witty, not-so-clever comment on big-guvment or unions, just SHUT THE FUCK UP.

    --
    Samsung took back my unlocked bootloader because Google wants me to rent movies. They're both evil.
  14. Re:Typical by sycodon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In 2013, 101 firefighters died in the line of duty.

    In 2013, about 110 police officers died...mostly in traffic accidents. Only 33 due to firearms and even among those few actually killed by bad guys.

    Firefighters risk their lives on every call and are protected by nothing more than a thick coat and helmet and their brains.

    The Police face risks on every call but most a boring and not dangerous. They are protected by firearms, theirs and their partners, ballistic vests, and overwhelming firepower when needed.

    The Police kill innocent people all the time. Firefighters rescue innocent people all the time.

    Hats off to Fire Fighters.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.