Researchers find Baltimore spy plane a small help in crime fight; mayor to make decision on program’s fate

Researchers at the nonprofit RAND Corp. say Baltimore’s so-called “spy plane” brought some increases to the number of violent crimes solved by police last year, but they stopped short of concluding whether the controversial surveillance program is worthwhile. In a report issued Wednesday, they wrote that a host of complicating factors prevents them from determining, at least for now, if the camera-equipped airplanes are effective tools in the crime fight.