Council hears plan to buy automated police drone with forfeiture funds for rapid response

Police and public-safety staff proposed purchasing an automated drone system to act as a first responder and situational-awareness tool. Staff described the platform as an integrated hardware-plus-software service priced around $50,000 and said the vendor would handle installation, maintenance and training on a one-year contract that can be terminated if unsatisfactory.

Staff emphasized the drone's automated dispatch integration and thermal imaging: it can be launched by dispatch and automatically travel to an incident location, provide IR/FLIR imagery, and allow remote operators to take manual control. “It's a force multiplier without adding people,” an Agency official said. Staff proposed funding the purchase from police forfeiture funds and splitting future operating costs with fire and emergency management for joint use.

Council asked about officer certification and privacy or operational controls; staff said the system handles most automation and the vendor provides the technical support and training. The council did not take final action but included the $50,000 line in ancillary fund discussion and requested policy language for deployment and oversight.