• •404 Media reported that the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) updated its policy manual to include guidelines for deploying weaponized drones.
• •The policy mandates that lethal force via drone must be authorized by a commanding officer and strictly limited to situations involving imminent threats of death or serious injury.
• •It remains unclear whether the NOPD currently possesses drone technology capable of carrying weapons or if they have formulated a specific acquisition plan.

The New Orleans Police Department recently updated its official policy manual to establish protocols for the use of weaponized drones. This development follows a broader national trend where departments are expanding drone utility, though the inclusion of lethal force guidelines is significantly more aggressive than typical surveillance-focused drone policies. While the NOPD has clarified that lethal force is restricted to emergency scenarios, the document lacks detail regarding existing hardware capabilities or technical safety requirements. Whether this policy is a precautionary administrative update or a precursor to imminent procurement remains to be seen.