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Lakeland approves drone replacement for police with FDLE grant support
Summary
The Lakeland City Commission approved a three-year drone replacement program for the Lakeland Police Department, funded in part by a Florida Department of Law Enforcement grant that will reimburse up to $25,000 per drone.
The Lakeland City Commission approved a drone replacement program for the Lakeland Police Department and a related FDLE financial-assistance agreement at its Feb. 3 meeting.
City management recommended buying four state-compliant drones from Skydio (integrated with the Axon platform) and one higher-capability "bridal" drone for tactical uses. The total program cost is $162,095; FDLE's replacement grant provides $25,000 per relinquished drone (five drones), for a total grant reimbursement of $125,000. Annual software and evidence-hosting costs of about $12,000 will be paid from Lakeland Police Department asset-forfeiture funds, city staff said.
The program restores the department's drone capability after the department's fleet was grounded in February 2022 because of state-level restrictions. Assistant Chief Hans Lehman described operational uses during commissioners' questions, including locating submerged vehicles and supporting missing-persons searches. "We launched a drone ... and we could get an exact location of where that ... car was so our divers could go straight to the car," Lehman said.
Commissioners raised department-wide questions about other municipal drone uses and whether water, electric and airport programs might qualify for replacement funding. City Manager Sean Shirelles and staff said they would survey other departments and check with the airport ACE program about student training that was interrupted by the grounding order.
The commission approved the agreement by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously.
