January 1, 2021, we made it! This past year has been one of the most strenuous years in modern history. From wildfires that seemed like they would never end, massive storms, a worldwide pandemic, rioting, economic uncertainties, and one of the most contentious political races ever, the world is hopeful that 2021 will be a bit more positive. It is safe to say that people all over the world looked towards last night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations with fingers crossed that things will be different for the coming year. One thing that was abundantly clear was that last night’s celebrations were very different from years past.

For over 100 years, One Times Square, NYC, the Crossroads of the World, has been the home to the most famous NYE celebration count down. Last year NYC police estimated that 1million people gathered in Times Square to watch the 11,875lb ball covered in 2,688 handmade Waterford crystal make its way down a 77ft flagpole. Another billion watched the NYE Time Square festivities from television screens around the world. To make sure that everyone has the best night possible the NYPD, the largest police force in the world, steps into overdrive to secure the event.

The days leading up to NYE are a frenzy of police activity as officers set up barricades and surveillance stations. On NYE you can see police officers on nearly every block in the area of Times Square. Dispersed amongst the crowds are plenty of plainclothes officers too. Several bomb squad stations are also set up each year. Over the last few years, the NYPD has added a new offensive strategy to their NYE lineup, drones. The NYPD was one of the first police departments in the world to develop a drone program. Today the NYPD has the most extensive police drone program in the United States.

On NYE, police use drones to keep a bird’s eye view of the revelers in Times Square. With millions of people to observe, drones give officers an extra layer of coverage to observe suspicious activity. A command team operates the drones from a central location. The high definition and infrared cameras on the drones allow officers to pick up on details they may not be able to see from a ground position. If a drone operator notices something of concern they use the drone to maintain visual contact while sending in a ground officer to investigate. The drones are also used to monitor for any civilian drone activity, something that is strictly prohibited within Times Square on NYE.

However, this year the NYPD had a very different NYE landscape. As NYPD Chief of Department, Terence Monahan said earlier this week, “My message to those ringing in the New Year’s: Please, stay at home.” While the ball still dropped and entertainers graced the stage, Times Square was closed to the public. The only people in the square were those necessary for performances, police, and 39 invite only families being honored for their contributions to battling COVID-19 in New York. Times Square was so empty that when the ball began to drop, you could hear the ticking of the count down clock, a sound that is normally drowned by the roar of the crowd.

Although there were no fireworks on Coney Island, no Central Park Midnight Run, and no Times Square spectators, the NYPD still was on hand to ensure the city’s safety. Police began closing down access to Times Square by 3 pm on December 31, 2020. From then on, a limited, yet still very present number of officers were scattered throughout Times Square and the rest of the city. While drones weren’t needed to control crowds this year, the NYPD used them to make sure people were not trying to enter restricted areas while maintaining social distancing for ground officers. As it was well known that the streets would be virtually empty, there was a concern that civilians would take this time to fly their drones and capture the oddity of an empty NYC NYE. In response to this Chief of Counterterrorism, Martine Materasso stated, “As a reminder, it is prohibited to fly a drone in the confines of NYC, including at this event.”

Cities around the world held similar NYE virtual celebrations. Besides the lack of people outside celebrating, another thing these cities had in common was that drones were being used to keep both civilians and officers safe. In the past, some have questioned if giving drones to police officers would be putting too much power in their hands. What has been made clear this year is that drones give people the power to stay socially distanced while completing crucial tasks, like monitoring major cities. Drones have enabled people to maintain a new sense of normalcy in a world that has been anything but normal. As Tim Tompkins, the president of the Times Square Alliance said in a press release this week, “More than ever in these divided and fear-filled times, the world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings.” Going forward into 2021, it is likely that drones will continue to be a positive presence in the world, a presence that will serve to unite people.