Surveillance Plane Owner Says Public Driving Call To Bring Back Program

The president of the company aiming to bring controversial surveillance flights back to Baltimore said he welcomes Gov. Larry Hogan's support.

In his letter to city leaders this week, Hogan urged city leaders to take up the offer of Persistent Surveillance Solutions to fly the plane for three years at no cost, with support from an anonymous benefactor.

CEO Ross McNutt, though, said the recent requests to have the service return to Baltimore are not coming from Hogan, but from community groups who have asked for meetings to discuss the program.

McNutt told C4 that he made a presentation to Hogan's office about a year and a half ago and hasn't met with anyone from Hogan's office since.

Police Commissioner Michael Harrison was noncommittal after he had a meeting with McNutt last month.

The plane flew over the city for several months three years ago, but city officials abandoned the plan after many on the City Council learned through news reports that the city was using the plane. Many activists complained about violations of residents' privacy.