Philadelphia's Student-Operated School Safety Drone Program Examined
While Axon's taser-drone idea for dealing with school shootings gained wide attention and criticism, Philadelphia schools are also using drones to increase school safety, although in a more mundane way.
IPVM interviewed Assistant Director of Security Technology and Programs for the school district Office of School Safety, Eric Rosa, and in this report, we examine the district's drone program, including:
- Background
- "Corridors Going To And From School" Are "The Greatest Challenge"
- Sport Venues Deployments
- Data-Centric Approach And Flexibility In Deployments
- Student-Flown, Monitored By An Officer
- DJI Drones Used, Looking At Others For Expansion
- Program Policy
- "Blossomed" Academic-Facing Part
- Looking For "Students Walking The Line," Not For Valedictorians
- Program Expansion, Not Looking To Be In Each School
- Lower Cost, Lower Manpower Alternative
- Outlook
Executive *******
** ***** *********** ******** ** ****** grounds ("********* ***** ** *** **** school") **** ********** ** *** "******** challenge" ** ************'* ******** ******* ** school ******, * *******-***** ***** ******* was ******* ** ***** ******** ********** by ******** ******* ****** **********. ***, two ***** ***** ******** *** *******, the ******** ** ******** *** ****** of ******** ************* ** *** ******* (from * ** **), ********** *** drone ***** (** ** * ******), and ******* ** ***** ***** ****** "strategically ********** *** ****."
**** ***** ******* ******** * ***** cost *** ***** ******** *********** ** securing/monitoring ***** ***** **** ******** ******** physically *******. ******, *** ******** **** IPVM **** **** **** **** ***** program ** ******* **** *** ******** personnel.
************, **** ******* *** ** ********-****** side, ***** "*********" ****** *** *******, as *** ******** **** ****. ** an ******* ** **** ***** *******, students *** *** ***** *** ******* to ******* ****** (****** **** "*********** employable"), * ****** ******* ***** **** school ******, *** * ******* ******* a ***** ********* ******* ******.
****** ******** ** ** ***** ********* responsible *** *** ****** ** ***** peers *** ***** ********. *******, *** district **** **** **** ******** *** never **** ***** *** *** ********** by ******** **** *** **** ********* to ****** *** ** ******* ********** behavior **** *** ******* ******** ***** it. ********, *** ******** ** "**** intentional" ** ******** *** ****** *** the *******, *** ******** *** "**** well ******" ** **** **** *** allowed *** *** ******* ** **.
Comparison **** **** ***** ***** **********
******* ***** *** ****** ********, **** proposed ********** ****** ******** **** *****-******** drones ****** ** ****** ***** - an **** **** ****** * ****** of ******** *** ********* **** ******* of *** ******* *** ******, ** the ******** ** *** *******'* ****** board ******** ******* ***** *** ************.
************'* ******** ** ****** ***** ****** is **** **** *******, *******, ** the ********'* ****** *** *** ******** with *** ***-****** (** ******) ********** and *** **** ****** *** ************ purposes.
*** **** ********** ** ****'* ***** initiative, ***:
- **** ***'* ****** *** ********** ***** Shooting ****** ******** **** ******
- ***** ****** ******** **** * *****, Alleges ****
Background
************ ****** ******** ** ** *** top ** ******* ** ********* **** 195,000+ ******** ******** ****** ~*** *******, as*** ********'* ******* *****. **** ***** ** *** ********* Director ** ******** ********** *** ******** for *** ****** ******** ****** ** School ******,**** ****, *** ** *********** *** **** program.
*****************'* ***** **** ******** ** ****, ** **** **** *** ******, crime ** ************ ** ***** ********. For *******, ********* ** *************** ********, ***** **** *** ********* ** 2023 ** ***, ***** ** ****** than ** *** **** *** ****** and ** ***** (*** ******** **** *** ********* ** 2023, **** ~* ******* ****** ****** in *** ******** ** ~*.* ******* living ** ************).
*** ***** ******* *** ******* *** years ***, ** *** ******** **** IPVM, *** ** *** ******* ** the ***** *****, ** *** ***** below *****:
"Corridors ***** ** *** **** ******" *** "*** ******** *********"
*** ******* *** ******* ** ******* school ******, ************ *** ****** ** areas *********** ******** ** ****** ******* (something **** ******** ********* ***** ** as "*********" ******* ******* *** *****). According ** *** ********'* *****,***** ******, ****************** ***** ***** ** *** "******** challenge" *** ****** *** ********'* *******:
*** **** *** ***** ******* ****** the ********, **** *** ***** **** they ** *** ****** ***corridors ***** ** *** **** ****** *** **** *** ** *** ******** ********** *** ****. [emphasis added]
********, ** * **** ******* *******, Chief ****** ********** **** **** *** not ******* ** ******* ************* ***** than *********** ******** ** ****** *******:
So *** **** ** *** ** ** ** *** ************** ****** ** ******* *** ******* *****'* **** ********, while we've seen the plan to be able to use this technology to get around our schools to **** **** **** *** **** *** ****** ******* *** ********* ******. [emphasis added]
*********, ********* ******** **** **** **** IPVM **** ****** ** *** ***** school *******:
We ***'* ***** *** ****** ******* ** ***** **** **** *** ****** *******, but we use the cameras to look up and down the corridor surrounding the school and we just make sure that there's nothing that looks like it requires attention, nothing that that concerns us. [emphasis added]
Sport ****** ***********
***** *** *******'* ********** *** ***** ago, ** *** ******** ** "******** supersites" (********'* ****** ****** *** ****** the ****) *****, ********* ** ********* Director ****, *** ******** *** *** "some ********** ******." **** ********** **** the ******* ******* ****** ** **** potential *** ******, ** ** ****:
We ******* **** **** **** ****** *** ******** ******** *** ** **** **** ** **** * *** ****** **** ******* **** *** ******, getting into the game with book bags. We don't allow book bags into the supersites because of weapons and drugs and things of that nature. And some people were coming around the back and try to jump over the fence with their book bags which poses the risks. We don't know what they have in their bags. Our ***** ****** **** **** ** *** **** *** ** **** **** ** *** **** ***** *** ****** **** *** *** ******** and check them make sure they didn't have anything on them. [emphasis added]
Data-Centric ******** *** *********** ** ***********
*******, **** ********** ** **** **** the ********* ** ***** ** ** drone ******* *** ****-****** ***, ** the **** ******, **** *** ******* school ********* *****, ********* *******, ***.
*** *** ****, *** ******** **** three ********* ********, ********* (*) ********-**** surveys (** **** **** ******-******* *********), (2) ****** ********** **** ** ********* that ***** ****** * "******* ****** around *** *******", *** (*) ******** data ** **** ********* ***** ****** the *******, ** **** *********:
We *** **** ** ***** *** ** *** ******** *** ** ***** *** ** *** ******** and to drive all of our objectives. So we are constantly working **** *** ****** ******** ** **** **** *** **** ******** **** ********-**** ******* that the district sends out every year because a big part of that survey that has to do with safety and the students perception of safety and the parents perception of safety. ... We **** *** ****** ********** **** *** ********* **** ***** ****** * ******* ****** ****** *** *******. ... And ** **** **** ** *** ******** ****** *** **** **** ** *** ****'* ***** ** ****** *** *******, **** ***** ** ******* ********* *** ********* ****** *** *******. So we use these three datasets to really see where their needs are, and to see where we need to deploy our resources, whether it's drones when there's manpower, or whatever that might be. So *** *** ********* ** **** ******* ****** ******* ** ***** ** ** ****** ** *** **** that we receive, and we're ***** ** ** **** ******* and making sure that we **** *** ******** **** ** **** ***** ** **** **** **** **** ** * **** *******. [emphasis added]
Student-Flown, ********* ** ** *******
***** *** *** ** ****** ** schools ** ******** ** **, ****** students *** *** ******* ** **** rarer - **** ** ******* **** the ************ ****** ******** ****, ** the ********* ******** **** ****:
We ********* **** *** ******** ****** *** ****** **** ** ****** ** ****** ****** *********, either myself, one of the supervisors, or one of the officers. So the students' *** ** ** ***** *** ***** *** **** *** ******* **** ******** ** *** ******* **** ** ********** ** **** *****'* **** *****, **** *********** ***** *** ****** ****** *********. And they say: "Hey, I see something here", then a school safety personnel comes over confirms that it's a concern. And then, we deploy our resources as needed [emphasis added]
***********, *** ******** *** ***** **** alone, *** ***** *** ** ** flag ********** ******** ** *** *******, who **** ******* *** ** ******* the *********, ** *** ******** *********:
They're ***** ** **********, *** ****, **'** ****** **** **** *****'* ** ****** ** ****** ****** ********* **** **** ** *** ***** to ensure that the student isn't doing anything they're not supposed to be doing. [emphasis added]
Program ******
*** *** **** ******** **** **** program ** *** ******** **** ** least ******* ************** *** *** ****** of ***** ******** ** *** ***** of ***** *****. *****, ********* ************** Rosa ********** **** *** ******** *** always **********, *** ******** ** "**** intentional" ** ******** *** ******* ******, and *** ******** *** "**** **** versed" ** **** **** *** *** cannot **.
*** **** ******, *** ******** ***** with *** ***** ***** ****** ********** (CA), ***, *** ****, "********* [*** use ** ******] *** ****** ******," and *** ******** **** ***** ****** to ***** *** ***.
*********, *** *** ********'* ********, *** flights *** ********, *** ******** *** required ** **** *** * ****** log. ** *** ****** ***, **** need ** ** **** ** ******* their *******, **** ******* ************** *** their ******* *** ****** **** **** they *** *** ******* *** *********:
*** ***** ******, ******* **'* * student ** * ***** ******,are *** ********* ** ****** ** ****** *** *** ******** ** ****** *** ******** ****** **** **** * ********** ********* **** *** ****** **** **** *** ******* ** **** *** ****** ** ******** ** * ********* **** ******** * ******** ** * ****** ******* *** *** ****** *********. So we were outlining in black and white that they are not allowed to profile anyone and unfollow any one person or any one group, specifically, unless they have a reason to. All ** *** ******* *** **********. ****'** ********, ****'** *****, the flight records are saved and we **** ** * ******* ****** ***. So if at any time they [drone operators] have to follow a group or follow up with an individual, they need to be able to articulate the why on the flight log. [emphasis added]
********, ** ***** **** ** "** time" *** *** ***** ******* ** where *** *** * "********** *********** of *******":
At ** **** *** *** ******* ** ** ******* ** ******* ******** ***** *****'* * ********** *********** ** ******* so you can look at anyone's windows and their home setting and the windows of their cars and you know, things of that nature. [emphasis added]
Lower ****, ***** ******** ***********
*******, *** ** *** ********** ** this ******* ** **** ******* ** personnel, ** *************, *** ******** ***** staff ***** ***** **** ******** *****, and *** ***** ** **** **** to ** ****. ************, **** *** free ****** ********* ** ** ********** other **** ******** ******** ***** *** building.
"Blossomed" ********-****** ****
***** *** ******* ****** *** **** program *** ****** ** ******** ********, the ******** ******* ** ******** **** to *** *******, *****, *** ***** assessments, "*********." ** * ****** ** this *******, ******** *** *** ***** FAA ******* ** *** *** ** the ******* *** * ******* ** the ***** ********* *******.
****, *** *** ****** **** *********** different ******* *** ***** ********, *** able ** ******* ********** ******** ***** *************, ** ************ **** ** *** time *** ********** * ********** *** students ** *** *** *** *******, as ** **** ****:
** ******* ** ********,I **** **** *********** **** * ******* ****** ****, Aerial Services Group International, and through my meetings with them, I ******* **** **** **** ******* ** ******* * ********** *** ******** ** ***** **** ** ** **** ** *** ***** **** *** ************* and they were looking for someone to partner with on that. And so it **** ** ******* ***** * ****** ***, *** * **** **** *** ***** *** ****** ************ *** **** *** ******** ****** ** ** *** ******* ** **** ** *** ** ***** ******* ************* *** *** ******** to make them employable and to give them options when they left high school. [emphasis added]
** *** ******* ****** ******** ** get *** *************, ***** ***** ****** said **** **** ***** **** "*********** employable" ** * **** ******* *******, and ** **** **** ****, **** of *** ******* ********* **** **** to **** ****** **** **** * $35/hour ****:
So [**** *******] *** **** **** ********** *** ********. I was able to get our students who completed the program employed over the summer, they **** ****** $**/**** ******* ***** ***** ** *** ****. And so you know, they were able to make decent money at 16 years old. [emphasis added]
******, ** *** ******** ****** ** make ***** ********** ***** **** **********, they *** ** ** ****** ****** Community *******, ***** **** *** *** 3 ******* *** ************* ** *** district's ******* (** **** ** * credit ******* ***** **** ****** ******):
** *** ******** *** *********one ****** ******* ***** **** ****** **********. I also formed a partnership with Warren ****** ********* *******, * ****** ********* ******* *** ****'** ****** *** ** *** ******** ***** ******* ******* towards their unmanned pilot classes, they offer an Associate's degree. [emphasis added]
Looking *** "******** ******* *** ****," *** *** **************
**** **** ****** **** **** ******* provided "** ********* *********** ** ******" students, ** ** ** ******* *** "students *** *** ******* *** ****" and *** **************":
*** [**** *******] **** ******** **an ********* *********** ** ****** [********]. When I went to the school and I talked to the administrators of the school, I told them that I ****'* ******* *** ***** *************. * *** ******* *** ***** ******** *** *** ******* **** ****, who could be persuaded, to do the wrong thing or the right thing and we ****** ** **** **** **** ** *** ***** ****. [emphasis added]
***** *** ******* ******** ** **** students *** ********, **** **** *** to *** **, **** *** ********** in **** *******, ** **** **** during * **** ******* *******:
***'* ** ******, **** ** ***** brought **** **, *** **** ** first ****** ** *** ****,the ***** ***** **** **** **** *** "*'* *** * ***", that's the first thing they said, they didn't want to be a part of it. But **** **** **** ** [********], "****, * *** ** *** ****, * *** ** **** **** ****, * *** ** ** ****, *******, *'** *** **". ... And now they're all in. And they're very aware of the mission of what it is that they are doing that dismissal. And, and they ** ** *** **** ***** and they know that they're supporting the safety of their peers. [emphasis added]
Program *********, Not ******* ** ** ** **** ******
*** ******** **** **** **** **** are ********* **** *******, ** **** now **** ** ******** *** ** officers ** ******** (******** ** * and * ** *** *********) *** increasing *** ****** ** ****** **** 2 ** *.
**** **** **** **** **** **** to ** ******** ** **** ********* and *** *** ******* ** ** at **** ****** ** *** ******** (as ** *** ***+ ** ****), but ****** **** ***** *** ******** strategically ****** ********** *** ****:
So * ***'* *** ** ***** ** ***** ******. We have over 200 schools in our district. I ***'* ***** ** ***** ** ********** ** **** ** ** ***** ******. But ** **** *** ** ****** *** **** ******* ***** ** ** ********** **** ***** ************* ****** ********** *** **** ** ******* ******** ** *** **** so we can have a Northeast team, a Northwest team, a Central team, a South team, and a Southwest team. We can support schools in that manner. That's *** **** ** *** ********* **'** ****** ** ***. ****** **** **** ****, ** ** ** ****** ** ****** **** **** *******, **** **** ***** ** ** **** would be to have these rooms actually physically located and strategically throughout the city where they can be accessed quickly. [emphasis added]
DJI ****** ****, ******* ** ****** *** *********
*** ******** *** ******* ******* ************* ****** *** ** ******* ********************** ** *** ******* *******.
*** ******** ** ***** ** ** restrictions ** *** (*** *** ********* -*,*), *** **** **** **** ** his ********, ** ******* **** *** chipsets ****** **** ***** ***** *** "acceptable." ** **** ***** **** ***** there ** * *********** **** **** will **** **** *** *** ***********, they *** ******* ** ***** ************* for *** ********* ** *** *******:
We **** * *** ******* ***, and we are currently ordering six additional drones. We are looking into Autel drones for this expansion. But you know, we haven't settled on it yet. We *** ** **** **** *** **** ** **** ********** **********. There are a lot of drones out there that have chipsets inside of them that are banned, for privacy reasons. So ** **** **** **** ** ** *** ********, **** **** ** ***** *** ******** *** ******* ** **** ** **** *** **** ** ********** ** *** ******** and then speaking to other agencies who are currently using drone technology. You know, we're looking into the Autel. Skydio ** ******* ***** **** **'** ******* **** *** **** ********* ** **** [emphasis added]
*** **** ********** ** ******, ****** ****** ********** *** ***** ********,** ***** ************ ****** ***** ** Be *** ***** ** ***** ********** Operations.
*******
**** ** *** ***** ** *** other ****** ******** **** **** ****** in **** ******. ** ******* ** be **** ** ***** ****** ********* will *** ****, *** ** ********** in ************, **** *********** ****** ********* can ***** ******* ********.
** **** ******** ** ******* *** success ** **** *******.
**** ** *********** *** ** ********** novel *******. * ** **** ********** in ****** ***** **** *** ** a **** ** *** **** ***. Hopefully, ** ********* ** **** *** proves ** ** ******* **** ** the ********/****** *******.