City Might Consider Bringing Back Privately-Funded Surveillance Plane To Assist Police

A privately-funded surveillance plane could be coming back to Baltimore to assist police.

The owner of Persistent Surveillance Solutions told the C4 Show on WBAL that he is scheduled to meet with Police Commissioner Michael Harrison next week to discuss bringing back the privately funded program.

"What we have been told is that if the police commissioner wants it he can have it. The program comes at no cost to the city," company CEO Ross McNutt said.

McNutt said he has secured an anonymous donor to pay for three years of the program, as well as outside oversight. He is asking the Baltimore Police Department's oversight board to set up a committee to oversee the program to address privacy concerns, and to see if it helps deter crime.

The program was used for several months in 2016 in the aftermath of the riots and a spike in crime following the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. The program was later abandoned after many city officials, including then-City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young and then-Councilman Brandon Scott were unaware of the program.

A number of officials raised privacy concerns about the program.

The program's future in Baltimore is not certain. Police spokesman Matt Jablow initially said he was unaware of Harrison's meeting next week.

He later said in an email, "The Commissioner has no plans whatsoever to bring back the surveillance plane."

Former City Councilwoman Rikki Spector is among those trying to convince city officials to bring back the program given the recent spike in violent crime.

McNutt said he plans to hold a public forum on the program 3 p.m. Sunday in his company's office at 3 South Frederick St.