Overview
- NYPD officials have formally asked the White House to grant the department the ability to electronically jam and disable unauthorized drones over the city.
- Commissioner Jessica Tisch argued that the NYPD needs a nimble local response rather than waiting on federal agencies for drone takedowns.
- Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said an executive order could extend takedown rights to state and local forces, but the June 6 directive only set up a federal task force without conferring explicit local authority.
- The department will continue to rely on FBI and Department of Homeland Security teams for drone mitigation during July 4 festivities
- The lobbying effort follows warnings from federal bulletins about weaponized drones abroad and lone-wolf attack risks in U.S. cities