NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. — Nassau County officials have launched a new drone command center with the capability to track drones from miles away, the New York Post reported.
While federal regulations limit their ability to fully intercept or neutralize drones, Nassau County officials have authorized the Nassau County Police Department to take matters into their own hands in response to a surge in “mysterious” drone sightings, including shooting down drones deemed a threat, according to the report.
“We don’t want to wait until we have some kind of disastrous event to then say, ‘Well, we could have done this and we could have done that,’” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said during Thursday’s announcement.
The new command center is equipped to monitor drone activity, but its current capabilities stop at detection, according to the report. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder emphasized the need for federal support to implement advanced mitigation technologies that can jam drones or redirect them.
“I can see a drone coming from 20 miles, but I can’t stop it,” Ryder said. “That’s what we’re asking for. The county exec is asking Congress to push that bill forward so we can get our drone mitigation here.”
For now, Nassau County police have been given the green light to shoot down drones that pose an immediate risk to public safety, according to the report. Ryder highlighted the readiness of his team.
“I have 30 of the best, world-renowned snipers in the country that can hit a quarter a mile away,” Ryder said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued temporary drone restrictions in parts of New Jersey and other areas through January 17, permitting the use of “deadly force” in extreme cases, according to the report. Despite these measures, questions linger about the origin of the drones, which have been sighted over at least 17 U.S. military installations and in areas near Chinese-owned property.
