"Like the bomb robot, such a product would raise fundamental questions about police use of force, said Elizabeth Joh, a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Law.
When police use force, “the premise is there is an imminent danger to the police officer or to the public, but when you create a distance between the officer and the use of force that raises different questions,” said Ms. Joh.
Ms. Joh said that questions about whether a drone with a Taser would increase the use force by officers also need to be addressed. She said that before adopting such technology, policies governing its use must be put in place."
"These developments have increased worries about the blurring of lines between police and the military, said Ryan Calo, an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Law who studies robots and the law.
“There is a longstanding belief in this country that the domestic police should not overlap with the military,” said Mr. Calo."