New Yorkers may have unexpected guests hovering over their Labor Day barbecues and outdoor hangouts – NYPD drones.  

The police department is planning to use drones to monitor safety across the five boroughs this Labor Day weekend and say that the use of drones will help determine the response required for complaints about large crowds and parties, including private events.  

“They are going to utilize drones from a safe distance up,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “They are going to use drones to determine, should they send crisis management teams there right away to help mitigate the problem.”  

Drones will respond to priority and nonpriority calls. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban says they’ll serve as an extra resource and a “force multiplier” for the department.  

Privacy advocates say that this use of technology is intrusive, raising concerns about surveillance violations.  

“You shouldn’t have to worry about a drone just popping in whenever you have friends over,” said Albert Fox-Cahn of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “This is just terrible public safety policing.” 

The drones will be used through Monday, and law enforcement officials say this is a pilot program they are testing out.