The San Francisco Police Department has been given the authorization to use lethal, remote-controlled robots as a means of law enforcement.
According to San Francisco City Supervisor Rafael Mandelman,
“Today, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance approving SFPD’s policy governing the funding, acquisition, and use of certain technology. This includes seven robots designed to neutralize/dispose of bombs, and provide video reconnaissance for operators. Under this policy, SFPD is authorized to use these robots to carry out deadly force in extremely limited situations when risk to loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available.”
City Supervisor Rafael Mandelman via Twitter
Mandelman stated that deadly force via robots will only be used in “extremely limited situations.” However, the policy to use this technology does not lay out parameters for when law enforcement can and cannot use it.
Law enforcement has been using robots to neutralize and dispose of explosives for several decades, but there has been a recent implementation by police departments to use robots as lethal force against a suspect.
In 2016, the Dallas Police Department became the first to use a robot as lethal force. After an active shooter struck 12 police officers, a gunfight between the shooter and law enforcement, and a several-hour standoff and negotiating, law enforcement used a remote-controlled robot strapped with explosives to detonate next to the shooter.
With this new method of neutralizing the threat of an active shooter, many critics are arguing that this is a step too far for law enforcement, and is a “militarization” of law enforcement that should not be allowed. With the lack of legal precedent for this technology, it will be interesting to see what restrictions will and will not be placed on law enforcement in the coming years.
