BRUNSWICK

Drones would be used for railroad track enforcement, not to patrol the town from the skies.

So says the Brunswick Police Department regarding the drone pilot program — to detect and deter trespassing on the railroad tracks — it is exploring with the Federal Railroad Administration.

At its Nov. 20 meeting, the Brunswick Town Council gave approval to Brunswick Police Cmdr. Tom Garrepy to acquire unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor large areas of track for trespassing and safety issues. Two councilors who voted in opposition that night said they wanted to see a policy on the program, which is still being drafted.

At a Dec. 4 council meeting, resident Bruce Myers of Gurnet Road told councilors he was concerned about a potential invasion of privacy. He suggested drones only be used for police work and that a search warrant be obtained before searching homes inside and out. The issues he raised are addressed by the policy, said Town Manager John Eldridge.

Sarah Brayman, one of the two councilors who opposed the acquisition at the Nov. 20 meeting, said she had received many comments after that meeting. She asked how police would transition from surveillance of the railroad track to other uses for the drones.

“We won’t use them for anything else, until what we’re proposing they be used for is fine by the council,” Eldridge said.

Brayman said Thursday that people are uncomfortable with drones, a new technology that has the potential to be invasive.

“I think this happened quickly,” she said. “We don’t have a policy, and I think people were surprised by it and therefore uncomfortable with it.”

While drones offer great opportunities, Brayman said, “it has a big dark side.”

“I think you need to have robust policies,” she said.

There are still many steps to be taken before the Brunswick PD implements a drone program, Garrepy said Wednesday, which likely won’t happen until next spring. The FRA will fund the project, which he said will include a feasibility study. The pilot program would eventually be a national model, he said, and wants to make sure it is undertaken in a transparent way. If and when the project gets underway, Garrepy said, an open house will be scheduled for the public to learn more about the drones and for what they will be used.

“It’s important to note that this is still in the infancy stages,” he said.

Garrepy said officers may initially use the drone more frequently to become acclimated with it. After that, however, he expects infrequent use, which will focus on trespassing detection and education.

“This is not going to be a tool used every shift,” Garrepy said. “This is not going to be like a police cruiser.”

Officers operating a drone must be trained and certified through the Federal Aviation Administration, which involves a one-day class. The department also has additional guidelines to follow because it is within five miles of an airport.

Given the capabilities of drones, they often raise privacy issues.

“Because we’re a municipal organization, we follow different guidelines than your hobbyist,” said Garrepy. “We can’t just take (the drone) out and say, ‘hey, it’s a nice day, let’s fly this.’ We have a lot of standards that need to be met.”

For example, police can’t fly drones with night vision technology without the permission of the FAA. Nor does he expect this drone would need to be equipped with a high-powered zoom lens. Police are also prohibited from having facial recognition technology or weapons of any kind on the drone.

They do have to carry police department markings. The drone’s propeller arms would have marking lights, and the FAA requires beacons making them visible from three nautical miles. When the rotors are running, they are noisy and won’t sneak up on people.

Every time a drone is deployed it would require administrator approval, a flight plan be filed, an after flight report be filled out and a police log entry be made.

“There are a variety of ways we are going to keep this above board and well documented,” Garrepy said.

As far as the issue of deploying a drone for criminal investigative purposes, officers must consult with the local district attorney’s office about whether a search warrant is required.

“I don’t want people to think we’ll be flying over their property looking for things,” Garrepy said.

Drone benefits

With permission from the FRA, Garrepy said once the program is underway he’d like to use the drone for other public safety applications — such as for search and rescue, fire scene management, storm damage or natural disaster management — to put eyes in the sky where people can’t go. There are many potential benefits to the department, he said.

At the end of the day, Garrepy said, this project is about safety.

“We have a trespassing issue here with the railroad,” he said, noting many use the tracks as a shortcut. In addition to the unsteady terrain, with the way trains are constructed, they can already be upon you before you hear them coming.

Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, said her agency always supports initiatives that can improve safety. The issue of railroad trespassing is not hype, she said.

“People trespass on the railroad continually and all over the place, all day, everywhere we go,” Quinn said.

It is a continual challenge nationally.

“In general, I think a lot of people just don’t have enough respect for the railway corridors which are, in fact, private property,” said Quinn.

NNEPRA has been fortunate recently, she said, that there have not been many recent incidents that have impacted service. But, Quinn said, people are out there all the time using the tracks to hunt, snowshoe, ride ATVs, snowmobile, walk, run, fish, smoke, bike, or trying to beat the crossing gates in their cars.

“Trains don’t go chase people down,” she said, “people get in the way of trains. If people stay off the track, a train won’t hit them.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com