Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (06/23/2025 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (sUAS)
Index as:
Drones
Post-Flight Log
Pre-Flight Log
Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC)
RPIC Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)
sUAS
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Visual Observer (VO)
VO
Accreditation Standards: 41.1.3, CFA 32.03
Cross Reference: G.O. III -14, Property and Evidence
§ 934.50, FS. , Searches and seizure using a drone
Florida Administrative Code 60GG -2.0075, Unmanned Aerial Systems Minimum Security
Requirements
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 107
Replaces: III-39 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) (December 18, 2024 )
This Order governs the use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) by the Department. It consists of:
I. Policy
II. Definitions
III. sUAS Deployment Criteria
IV. uUAS Operation
V. Training and Documentation
VI. Storage and Retention
VII. Restricted Use and Release
I. POLICY
A. It is the policy of the St. Petersburg Police Department that any employee operating a Small Unmanned Aircraft
Systems ( sUAS ) adheres to all applicable federal and Florida statutes governing drones and operates the sUAS in
a safe manner.
B. The Department’s sUAS program is under the direction of the Crimes Against Property Division Major .
Designated supervisors may be assigned to oversee the use of a sUAS to achieve unit or function objectives
(i.e. the use of a sUAS by the Traffic Section to map crash scenes ).
C. Only sUAS approved by the Crimes Against Property Major , owned by the Department, and registered with the FAA
are authorized to be used by Remote Pilots in Command (RPIC) in the performance of their duties. The assigned
registration number will be on the body of the sUAS .
D. All personnel authorized to use the sUAS will do so in a safe manner to minimize potential injury or property damage. DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
December 2024
Immediately III-39
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III -39
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (06/23/2025 ) II. DEFINTIONS
A. Pre-Flight and Post -Flight Log – Either an electronic or hard copy log that contains a safety checklist for the sUAS,
flight times, area flown, and weather conditions.
B. Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) – An individual who has full control over the sUAS and holds a valid Part 107
Airman C ertificate with a Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems rating certified by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). RPICs are also considered “pilots.”
C. Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) – An aircraft system that operates w ithout a human pilot on board. The
flight of the sUAS is controlled remotely by the RPIC.
D. Visual Observer (VO) – An individual who is trained in sUAS operations and tasked to maintain a constant visual of
the sUAS while it is airborne. The VO is also responsible to scan the immediate a rea for hazards that could impact
the safe operation of the sUAS and to coordinate with the RPIC. Hazards may include, but are not limited to, adverse
weather patterns, other aircraft, and terrain.
III. sUAS DEPLOYMENT CRITERIA
A. The operation of a sUAS may be authorized under the following conditions: (§ 934.50, Florida Statutes)
1. To counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization if the United States Secretary
of Homeland Security determines that credible intelligence indicates that there is such a risk.
2. If the Department first obtains a search warrant signed by a judge authorizing the use of a sUAS .
3. If the Department possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is nee ded
to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property, to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect
or the destruction of evidence, or to achieve purposes including, but not limited to, facilitating the search for a
missing person.
4. To assi st a law enforcement agency with traffic management; however, traffic infraction citation will not be
issued based on images or video captured by the sUAS .
5. To facilitate the collection of evidence at a traffic crash scene.
6. To provide a law enforcement agency with an aerial perspective of a crowd of fifty ( 50) people or more.
7. To assess damage due to a flood, a wildfire, or any other natural disaster that is the subject of a state of
emergency declared by the state or by a po litical subdivision, before the expiration of the emergency
declaration.
8. In compliance with any additional provision of section 934.50, Florida Statutes.
B. Unless otherwise allowed by law, it is prohibited to use a sUAS to record an image of private proper ty or of the
owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of such property with the intent to conduct surveillance o f the individual
or property in violation