Eyes in the sky: NYPD uses drones to track sharks off New York City beaches
The NYPD's drone program is providing "eyes in the sky" over New York City beaches, helping lifeguards detect sharks before they get too close to swimmers.
New York Police Department drone unit tracks sharks off city beaches
The NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit is using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras to monitor waters around New York City beaches, giving lifeguards an aerial view of sharks and other marine life to help keep beachgoers safe.
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – With shark sightings on the rise along much of the Northeast coast this summer, the New York Police Department (NYPD) is using drones to patrol city beaches, giving lifeguards an aerial view to spot sharks before they get too close to swimmers.
The NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) uses drones for a wide range of public safety missions — from rescuing distressed swimmers and assisting search-and-rescue operations to monitoring crowded beaches and tracking sharks offshore.
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The NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) uses drones to monitor city beaches, providing lifeguards with an aerial view to spot sharks before they approach swimmers.
(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Working alongside lifeguards, officers in the specialized, high-tech unit patrol the skies above city beaches, providing a precautionary aerial line of defense against the ocean's most feared predators.
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When a shark is spotted — a scenario that has become increasingly common this summer — drone operators immediately alert lifeguards, who clear swimmers from the water out of an abundance of caution.
A shark swims off a New York City beach after being detected by an NYPD drone. The department's Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) uses aerial surveillance to alert lifeguards when sharks venture too close to swimmers.
(NYPD / Facebook)
According to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, 16 sharks were spotted between July 1 and July 5 off Rockaway Beach, with NYPD drones spotting seven of them, ABC 7 reported.
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While shark attacks in New York remain rare, NYPD drone patrols provide an added layer of protection by helping lifeguards spot sharks before swimmers come into harm's way.
Each summer, the NYPD's Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) patrols city beaches from above, using drones to monitor swimmers, detect sharks and provide lifeguards with real-time aerial intelligence to enhance public safety.
(Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, 12 unprovoked shark bites were recorded across more than 150 years prior to 2022, though recent years have seen a temporary spike in non-fatal encounters along Long Island and New York City waters.
With drones serving as an extra set of eyes in the sky, officials continue to work to ensure safety remains the top priority for visitors while allowing sharks to exist in their natural environment.