The Clarkstown Police Department will be the first in Rockland County to deploy drones, officials announced Tuesday.
Officials say the unmanned aerial vehicles, which contain cameras, will scope out potentially dangerous situations before sending in officers. They say potential uses would be for hazmat scenes or chases through wooded areas.
A big concern about drone programs across the country has been privacy.
Many privacy advocates believe drones could be used to spy on people. Officials in the police department say they are very aware of the concerns, and they have policies in place to protect the public.
"If there is expectation of privacy, then we have to get a search warrant," says Capt. Anthony Ovchinnikoff.
The police currently have two drones -- the Phantom and the Inspire -- and they plan to train a dozen officers to use them.