Should the LAPD test drones? Police ask the public to weigh in

Should Los Angeles police be allowed to test the use of drones? The question will be one of many posed Wednesday evening at a series of forums held by the Los Angeles Police Department as it tries to gauge public reaction to its proposal to fly drones during a one-year pilot program. The meetings, scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m., will be held in four locations: the Westwood Recreation Center; Peck Park Recreation Center in San Pedro; Friendship Auditorium near Griffith Park; and the Marvin Braude San Fernando Valley Constituent Service Center in Van Nuys. The LAPD's proposal is still in the early stages -- the civilian Police Commission must sign off on both the pilot program and a policy for testing the drones before any are flown. Drones have been hailed by law enforcement across the country as a valuable technology that could help find missing hikers or monitor armed suspects without jeopardizing the safety of officers.