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As law enforcement agencies across Ohio expand their use of drones, police officers are receiving specialized training to understand both the power and the limits of the technology under the law.
Retired Columbus Police Commander and attorney Bob Meader led a statewide training in Columbus focused on the legal framework surrounding drone operations for law enforcement. The session emphasized the need for officers to balance public safety with constitutional protections.
“Just being a licensed pilot is not enough to use drones in law enforcement operations. We want the community safe and we want law enforcement working within the guidelines of the Constitution,” Meader explained.
One of the biggest legal questions, Meader said, involves the difference between navigable airspace and curtilage — the area immediately surrounding a home that is protected under the Fourth Amendment.
“Officers can fly a drone in navigable airspace, but they can’t intrude on a person’s property without a warrant,” Meader said. “That balance is one of the most important issues we cover.”
He also pointed to emerging questions about drone use during First Amendment activities, such as flying drones that display political messages and where such flights are legally permitted.
Meader said drone operators — whether police or private citizens — must also comply with FAA rules that restrict flights beyond a pilot’s line of sight and prohibit flying directly over crowds.
In law enforcement settings, drones can be valuable investigative tools. Meader explained that officers can use aerial footage to monitor activity outside suspected drug houses or track stolen property, as long as they remain within legal airspace.
“Law enforcement doesn’t have to be right — they have to be reasonable,” he said.
Drones have also become critical in emergency and tactical situations. Meader noted that SWAT teams in central Ohio have used drones to assess barricade incidents and locate armed suspects or victims inside homes under exigent circumstances — when immediate danger allows police to act without a warrant.
“Because there’s an ongoing emergency, law enforcement can breach the inside of a home, perhaps flying a drone through a window or door to assess the situation,” Meader said.
As drone technology advances, Meader said training like this is essential because case law is still developing.
“This is the only class of its kind in Ohio,” he said. “We want our law enforcement teammates to get it right as best they can, even though there isn’t much law yet to guide them.”
He added that staying current with federal and state regulations is key. A new Ohio law that took effect April 9 allows local law enforcement to charge individuals who violate FAA rules — a step that previously required federal intervention.
At the federal level, lawmakers are also considering changes that could remove the requirement for pilots to maintain a direct visual line of sight with their drones.
While drone use is expanding, Meader cautioned that privacy concerns remain significant — not just from government surveillance but also from civilian misuse.
“As a civilian, if you fly a drone up to someone’s window, that’s a trespass,” he said. “Law enforcement can’t do that either, because it violates the Fourth Amendment.”
Despite those challenges, Meader said drones have proven invaluable in searches for missing persons and other emergencies, often saving lives.
“It’s an ever-developing area,” he said. “Some of the officers in this class will be the ones shaping the future law.”
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Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.