Local police concerned about impacts of DJI drone ban

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Law enforcement agencies in the Coachella Valley are expressing some concern over a federal drone ban.

The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) ban of Chinese-made DJI and Autel Robotics drones in the United States went into play last Tuesday. While older models already approved for sale and those already in use are excluded from the ban, all new drone models are now blacklisted.

The ban comes after years of scrutiny from the government over security concerns. DJI has pushed back against claims that its drones have sent sensitive flight data back to China in years past.

"We stand ready to work with you, to be open and transparent, and provide you with the necessary information to complete a thorough review," wrote Adam Welsh, DJI’s Head of Global Policy, in his latest letter to American officials earlier this month.

DJI drones are widely used among local police's drone programs, including the Palm Springs and Indio Police Departments.

"Our entire drone fleet is comprised of DJI technology," said Lt. Gustavo Araiza of PSPD.

Lt. Araiza said there are concerns in the mid to long-term as parts and supplies for the drones become more sparse. And as critical firmware and software updates are blocked by the ban, there's worry that the agency's drones could face some serious hurdles soon.

"When you talk about the serviceability, even though I say mid to long term, I mean that mid to long term might be within a few months," Lt. Araiza explained.

If the department's drone fleet is rendered inoperable by the ban, Lt. Araiza said the alternatives would be expensive. Whether it's moving back towards a reliance on other agencies' helicopters or moving to U.S.-made drones, high costs could be on the horizon.

News Channel 3 is highlighting the problems the ban is creating for local law enforcement tonight. Stay with us for the latest.