Council approves donated drone program for Midland Fire after public debate

Midland City Council voted 4–0 to accept a donated drone program for the fire department that staff said will provide incident commanders a bird's-eye view on major calls.

Fire Department leadership explained the package—funded by Chevron and Oxy—costs $109,000 and covers five years of equipment, parts, database access and maintenance. The chief described operational limits and FAA requirements, saying certified pilots would coordinate with air-traffic control for incidents near the airport and that department retention policies will govern video storage. "The 109,000 is the total cost. It covers 5 years," the chief said during the presentation.

Public commenters raised privacy and priority concerns. Lance Winkler urged caution over potential police access and recommended warrants for law-enforcement use, saying, "If a police officer wants to use a similar system... get a warrant, get a judge, get a signature." Shandy Williams called the purchase "probably one of the most asinine purchases I can possibly see," arguing the money would be better spent on training, personnel and protective gear. Derek Smith asked the council to survey rank-and-file firefighters and officers about priority uses and total lifecycle costs, including licensing and storage.

Council members and staff said the funds were restricted to the drone program and had been sought to avoid using operating-budget dollars. After discussion about FAA rules, data retention and training, the council approved the item on a motion and a recorded roll call that resulted in a 4–0 vote.