# New Orleans Police Published Policy Allowing Weaponized Drones A draft document permitting armed police drones was leaked online. - **Source:** [Slashdot](https://brifing.si/source/0f34d58e-1ccd-45a6-ab82-2de4065dc7ad) - **Published:** 2026-07-20 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6eb70007-b10b-4c37-a699-10738813e4c4 ## Draft Document on Armed Drones Leaked A draft document from the New Orleans Police Department allowing drones to carry weapons with superintendent approval was leaked online. The document sparked immediate controversy. ## Current Policy Bans Weapons NOPD clarified that its current policy, published on July 1, explicitly prohibits drones from carrying weapons or hazardous materials. The draft version is no longer valid. ## How Was the Draft Published? The police department did not respond to questions about how or why the draft document was published. This highlights a disconnect between internal discussions and public policy. ## Debate Over Weaponized Drones The idea of weaponized drones is being debated among drone companies and police departments. New Orleans has been a pioneer in camera and drone-based policing. ## Tactics to Avoid Public Scrutiny The New Orleans police have used controversial tactics to bypass public scrutiny and regulations. This raises concerns about transparency and accountability. ## Private Plans vs Public Policy The internal discussions and private plans of the police department do not align with public policies. This discrepancy underscores the need for greater transparency. ## Sources covering this story - https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/07/20/2259204/new-orleans-cops-published-policy-document-allowing-weaponized-drones?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._