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The following language may be incorporated into search warrant affidavits and search
warrants to obtain authorization to employ small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAVs) or
“drones” in executing certain types of search warrants.
1. The affidavit: The affiant should include a summary of his or her training and experience
as it relates to making nonconsensual entries into homes and other structures for the purpose
of executing arrest warrants and warrants to search for drugs, weapons, and other contraband.
This background information is necessary because of the need to employ the sUAV will be
based mainly on the affiant’s training and experience as it relates to these types of entries.
2. Affidavit: [The following or something similar should be included in the affidavit] Based
on my training and experience, I am aware that there exists an increased threat of violence—
often involving firearms and other deadly weapons—whenever officers enter a structure for
the purpose of executing [delete any that are not applicable] [a warrant to search for drugs
and/or weapons] [a warrant to search for the fruits and instrumentalities of a violent crime] [a
warrant to arrest a person who is wanted for a violent felony] [other, specify].
I believe this heightened threat exists for two reasons. First, in executing warrants for these
purposes, officers frequently discover firearms and other deadly weapons, and these weapons
are often located in places and in a manner that enable the occupants to quickly use them
against anyone who is perceived as a threat. Second, officers will give notice of their
authority and purpose either before they enter the structure or (in the case of no-knock
warrants or exigent circumstances) shortly thereafter. In any event, when the occupants
become aware of the officers’ authority and objective, it is not unusual for them to panic
because of the possibility that they are about to be taken into custody and subsequently
prosecuted and imprisoned. In this fight-or-flight mental state, the occupants may become
desperate and attempt to thwart the officers’ mission by any means necessary, including
attempted escape and the use of deadly force.
Officers may, however, be able to avoid or significantly reduce these threats by utilizing a
small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) to fly over and around the structure before and after
the entry is made, and thereby provide them with vital information such as the following: a
realtime view of the premises’ exterior which will enable supervisors to determine where
officers can be safely posted to prevent escape into the surrounding neighborhood; any
movement from an open door or window that may indicate the occupants are attempting to
escape or use deadly force against officers inside; the location of occupants who fled the
premises before or during the officers’ arrival; and realtime information as to the presence of
people outside the premises who may pose a threat to the officers inside. I am aware that,
these types of aircraft are now commonly used for these purposes by law enforcement
agencies throughout the country, and that their use has proven to be both safe and effective.
Furthermore, law enforcement agencies and fire departments now commonly employ these
aircraft to help conduct search and rescue missions and provide officers with realtime aerial
observations at the scenes of crimes and emergencies.
Based on my training and experience, I am also aware that the employment of an sUAV will
be minimally intrusive to people who live or work nearby. The reasons are as follows: (1) the
sUAV’s cameras will ordinarily be focused almost exclusively on the target structure and its
