Camden County police expand drone fleet with private funding

New drone program raises privacy concerns among residents and civil liberties groups

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:07pm

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Camden County police have deployed the region's largest drone fleet, funded by $430,000 in private donations from power brokers George Norcross and Sid Brown. The fleet now includes nine drones, with 10 trained pilots, that can be used for tracking ATVs, stolen vehicles, finding missing people, and identifying illegal dumping. However, the expansion of the drone program has raised privacy concerns among residents and civil liberties groups like the ACLU, who worry about potential misuse and unconstitutional surveillance.

Why it matters

The use of drones by law enforcement, even with stated policies in place, raises significant privacy concerns for residents. There are fears that the drones could be used to conduct warrantless surveillance, violating Fourth Amendment rights. The history of police misconduct in Camden also heightens concerns about the potential for abuse of this new surveillance technology.

The details

Camden County police now have a fleet of nine drones, the largest in South Jersey, funded by $430,000 in private donations from Democratic power broker George Norcross and NFI trucking CEO Sid Brown. The drones can be used to track ATVs, stolen vehicles, find missing people, and identify illegal dumping. Police say the drones will allow them to respond to emergencies anywhere in the city. However, civil liberties groups like the ACLU warn that the drones could be used for unconstitutional spying, with no clear policies in place to prevent abuse. The ACLU's Daniel Reisman says the public has no idea what the police department's actual drone usage policy is, raising concerns about oversight and potential privacy violations.

  • Camden County police expanded their drone fleet in January 2026.
  • The Paterson Police Department, under the oversight of the Attorney General's Office, is also expanding its drone fleet.

The players

Camden County Police Department

The local police department in Camden County, New Jersey that has deployed the region's largest drone fleet, funded by private donations.

George Norcross

A Democratic power broker who donated $215,000 to fund the Camden County police drone program.

Sid Brown

The CEO of NFI trucking who donated $215,000 to fund the Camden County police drone program.

Daniel Reisman

A staff attorney for the New Jersey chapter of the ACLU who has raised concerns about the lack of transparency and potential for abuse with the Camden County police drone program.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

A civil liberties organization that has flagged the Camden County police drone program as a potential threat to privacy rights and Fourth Amendment protections.

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What they’re saying

“We don't know if a pilot is going to be able to use this without oversight, whether or not their use of it is going to be audited by another officer. Will they fly drones to look into people's backyards at people sunbathing? These questions might sound silly but they are the sorts of abuses we see when it comes to surveillance tech.”

— Daniel Reisman, Staff Attorney, New Jersey ACLU

“Having the ability to launch these drones from rooftops across the city is an ideal investment for us and allows us to achieve our objectives without having to borrow equipment from other agencies. These new resources have already been utilized in several situations.”

— Gabriel Rodriguez, Police Chief, Camden County Police Department

What’s next

The ACLU has indicated it may pursue legal action if the Camden County Police Department does not provide more transparency and oversight around its drone program.

The takeaway

The expansion of drone technology in law enforcement, even with stated policies in place, raises significant privacy concerns for residents. There are valid fears about the potential for abuse and unconstitutional surveillance, especially in communities with histories of police misconduct. Striking the right balance between public safety and civil liberties will be an ongoing challenge as this technology continues to evolve.