Woman Sees Denver Police Drone Outside Her Window While Bathing

A Denver woman found herself in a situation that left her feeling shocked and deeply unsettled after noticing a police drone hovering outside her window while she was taking a bath. The incident, which occurred on a Monday night, has sparked a conversation about the use of drones by law enforcement and the potential for privacy concerns.

Eden, who chose to remain anonymous, described the moment she spotted the drone. “I was just playing on my phone, relaxing, and I saw a flashing light coming from the window,” she said. “It was a drone, and I was like, 'Oh my God’... I felt violated.”

She immediately called out to her boyfriend, Carlos, who was also in the apartment. He confirmed the sighting, noting that the drone was flying very close to their window. The couple estimated that the drone was no more than 30 feet above the ground.

“I mean, I saw it right out of my window,” Carlos said. “At least, close enough to where I feel like if I threw a rock, I'd be able to hit it.”

When contacted, the Denver Police Department (DPD) admitted that the drone belonged to them and was part of a four-month first responder program. According to the department, the drone was en route to the scene of a call regarding a suicidal individual near the couple’s apartment.

Despite this explanation, Eden expressed her discomfort with the situation. “I almost preferred that it was a stranger because the police are here to protect and not to violate,” she said. “It didn't feel good. It didn't make me feel safe at all.”

The DPD told KUSA that the drone's camera had been pointed in the opposite direction and offered to show Carlos the footage from the flight. However, the couple disputes the claim that the drone was flying at 200 feet for the entire duration. They believe it was much closer to their home.

According to the department, the drone was only in the area for approximately two minutes and circled the location of the call for service during that time. The footage is stored on the Drone as First Responder Transparency Dashboard for 60 days.

The DPD shared additional details about the program, stating that such drones have been deployed to 622 calls for service since the program was quietly launched in October last year and continued through February 12. Drones arrive on scene before officers in more than 84 percent of cases, and pilots can determine whether or not a physical patrol response is needed in over 36 percent of cases. This helps free up officers for more serious incidents.

Eden told KUSA that, despite her negative experience, she believes that drones "can be used in the right way." However, she added, “I don't like the fact that they were hovering in a very residential spot where people could get the wrong idea.”

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