Police said the remote aircraft will supplement their longstanding aviation unit, which will continue handling patrols.

The program joins other departments across metro Atlanta, such as Brookhaven Police and Cobb County Police, that have implemented similar initiatives.

Addressing potential public privacy concerns, officials stressed that flight teams must follow Constitutional protections.

 This new technology doesn't prevent us or make us less obligated to follow the Fourth Amendment,  Carter said.  We are not going to be viewing into people's private residences or anywhere in the curtilage that necessarily wouldn't need to be a search warrant. 

What's next:

These two devices represent the opening phase of the department's program. Police officials said they may eventually add more drones to its fleet.