Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Baton Rouge Police Department recently began deploying a military-grade drone, the Stalker VXE30, making it one of the first local law enforcement agencies in the United States to utilize an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) originally designed for foreign war zones. The $1 million investment, which includes the drone itself, training, and batteries, raises serious questions about the increasing militarization of policing and potential impacts on privacy.
A New Frontier in Local Surveillance
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The move signals a significant escalation in surveillance capabilities available to local law enforcement.
- The Stalker VXE30, manufactured by Lockheed Martin and Edge Autonomy (now Redwire), boasts surveillance ranges of dozens of miles and extended flight times.
- Unlike typical police drones from companies like DJI, Skydio, or Flock Safety, this model has a history of military use, primarily for long-range reconnaissance.
- Concerns include the potential for accessing private property, long-term data storage, and the addition of advanced surveillance tools like license plate readers and facial recognition technology.
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed a public records request seeking details about the acquisition and oversight policies surrounding the drone’s use.
“It can be miles away, but we can still have a camera looking at your face, so we can use it for surveillance operations,” Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse told reporters. This statement highlights the drone’s capacity for long-distance observation, sparking debate about the balance between public safety and individual privacy.
Expanding Surveillance Capabilities
The Stalker VXE30’s capabilities extend far beyond those of commercially available drones typically used by police departments. While many agencies rely on models from DJI, Skydio, or Flock Safety, the VXE30 has been employed in military operations globally and currently supports long-range reconnaissance for the U.S. Army and other branches. This raises concerns about a shift towards more aggressive surveillance tactics at the local level.
Beyond its core surveillance features, the drone’s design allows for the addition of “payloads”—additional equipment that could include more sophisticated surveillance tools or even weaponry. This potential for expansion adds another layer of concern for civil liberties advocates.
Existing Drone Concerns, Amplified
The introduction of a military-grade drone amplifies existing concerns about drone surveillance. These concerns include the ability of drones to view areas traditionally off-limits to law enforcement, such as backyards and decks. Footage captured by these drones can be stored and shared beyond the scope of the initial flight, and the potential exists to install additional surveillance equipment, such as automated license plate readers and facial recognition technology.
The EFF has filed a public records request to gain insight into the conditions surrounding the drone’s acquisition and any existing oversight policies. The organization has been tracking the expansion of police drone surveillance for years and views this acquisition as a dangerous new development. They plan to continue investigating and supporting communities working to resist the militarization of local police and mass surveillance. Individuals interested in learning more about surveillance technologies in their city can explore the Atlas of Surveillance.
The Baton Rouge community now faces the challenge of establishing policies that restrict and oversee the use of this powerful new technology, ensuring it is deployed responsibly and with respect for civil liberties.
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