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Cleveland police say drone program ready but Community Police Commission limits and DOJ review have paused broader use
Summary
Police told the committee they have purchased drones and drafted a policy but that restrictive amendments from the Community Police Commission and an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice review have delayed operational use beyond a brief, contested test deployment at a protest.
Committee members and police leaders discussed the status of an approved police drone program and a policy that would govern its deployment.
The Division of Police confirmed the department purchased the drones and completed a draft policy reflecting national best practices. The policy was reviewed by the Community Police Commission (CPC), which approved it but added limitations the division says would hinder effective operational use — for example, restrictions on using drones to monitor crowds. Chief Todd said the CPC-approved policy was then forwarded to the U.S. Department of Justice monitoring team for further review; the division has paused additional deployments until the DOJ and the CPC complete their review.
Police leaders described a limited operational test during a protest route: the certified operator obtained FAA clearance for a planned deployment, launched a drone to test capabilities, and used it briefly to assess the crowd and movement. That deployment drew public criticism from the CPC; after the CPC publicly condemned the use, the police suspended further deployments until the DOJ and the CPC complete their review of the draft policy and any recommended changes.
Council members argued the limitations would prevent police from using drones to assist officers during violent or dangerous crowd incidents. The chair and multiple council members said they support the department’s ability to use drones for officer safety, search-and-rescue, crowd-size assessment and crime scene documentation. Chief Todd and the director said they would continue working with the CPC and planned to ask the DOJ monitoring team for a timeline. Members urged a joint public conversation including police, the CPC and council to clarify operational expectations.
Police emphasized FAA clearance and operational planning are required for deployments, and that the drones are envisioned as a camera-angle tool — not a surveillance program to replace other accountability measures. No legislative action was taken at the committee meeting; the CPC-DOJ review remains outstanding.
