Policy Text
Page 1 of 6 General Order 06-32 (12/04/23)
SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: SMALL UNMANNED A ERIAL VEHICLE Chapter
6 Number
32 # Pages
6
CALEA Standards: 17.5.2, 33.6.1a, 33.6.1b, 33.6.1c,
41.1.3a, 41.1.3b, 41.1.3c, 41.1.3d
VA State Code: §§19.2-60.1, 19.2 -60.1(c) Related Ord ers: Effective Date: 12/04/2023
Revised By: PD-132
Prv. Rev. Date: 12/15/2021
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to provide guidelines for City of Richmond Police
Department employees on the maintenance and training procedures of the Small Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle. This directive also provide s personnel assigned responsibilities associated
with deploying and using the unmanned aerial vehicle with instructions on when and how
this technology and its information may be used for law enforcement and public saf ety per
department guidelines and federal, s tate and local laws.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
The revisions come from a modification request (PD -132). Regarding sUAV , updates to the
chain of command for the unit have been made. C hanges wi ll be bold and italicized
throughout the document.
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department that appropriately trained and authorized
agency personnel may deploy the Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) , when such use is
appropriate in th e performance of their offi cial duties and when deployment and the
collection and use of any audio/video recordings or other data originating from or generated
by the sUAV conform with the policy provisions provided herein and applicable law.
IV. ACCOUNTABIL ITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines outlined in this
general order. Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any policy
violations are investigated and appropriate training, coun seling, or disciplinary action is
initiated.
This directive is for internal use only a nd does not enlarge an employee’ s civil liability in any
way. It should not be construed as creating a higher safety standard or case in an evidentiary
sense concerning t hird-party claims. Violation of this directive, if proven, can only form the
basis of a complaint by this department and only in a non -judicial administrative setting.
Page 2 of 6 General Order 06-32 (12/04/23)
SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
V. DEFINITIONS
A. (DME) – Digital Multimedia Evidence: Digital recording of images, sounds, and
associated data.
B. (FAA) – Federal Aviation Administration: A national authority with powers to regulate
all aspects of civil aviation.
C. (BWC) – Body -Worn Camera: The Body -Worn Camera (BWC) is an audio and video
recording system worn by officers, which ca ptures encounters and activities from the
officer’s perspective.
D. (RPIC) – Remote -Pilot -in-Command: A member of RPD assigned to operate the sUAV
who:
1. Oversees and coordinates the usage of the sUAV during operations and training;
2. Has the responsibility for the operation and the safety of the sUAV flight;
3. Has the responsibility that the stored property is in a state of operational
readiness. [CALEA 17.5.2]
4. Has been designated as the pilot -in-command before or during the flight; and
5. Hold s a Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft License issued by the FAA under 14
CFR Part 107.
E. (sUAV) – Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: An unmanned aerial vehicle and its
associated elements related to safe operations, including control stations, support
equipment, play loads, flight termination systems, and launch/recovery equipment. The
vehicle must be under 55 pounds, including payload. It consists of three elements:
1. Unmanned aircraft,
2. Control Station,
3. Data Link.
VI. PROCEDURE
A. Operation
This agency has adopted sUAVs t o provide an aerial visual perspective in response to
emergencies and exigent circumstances.
B. Authorization
All deployments of sUAVs must be expressly authorized by the Chief of Police or
their designee, primarily the Major of Support Services.
Page 3 of 6 General Order 06-32 (12/04/23)
SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE C. Legal Requir ements
1. Section 19.2-60.1 of the Code of Virginia articulates how and under what
circumstances public bodies may use sUAVs. Specifically, no local
department may utilize a sUAV except during the execution of a search
warrant or an administrative or inspecti on warrant.
2. Virginia C ode provides certain exceptions to the warrant requirement for
using sUAV by public bodies. Section 19.2 -60.1(C) (iv) of Virginia C ode
allows a n sUAV to be deployed without a warrant where use “is determined to
be necessary to alleviat