Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Technology topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wabasha County holds public hearing on sheriff’s drone purchase for search-and-rescue; purchase targeted for June 3
Summary
The sheriff’s office presented a proposal to buy a drone for search-and-rescue and public-safety uses. Commissioners opened and closed a public hearing; staff said the purchase would be acted upon June 3, a policy will be posted, licensing and reporting requirements apply, and donors will be offered demonstrations.
The Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office held a public hearing on a planned drone purchase, saying the aircraft would be used primarily for search-and-rescue and other public-safety tasks. Rodney Barge of the sheriff’s office told commissioners the office would post its policy for review, accept donor input through demonstrations and expects to seek board approval of the purchase on June 3.
Barge said the drone will be used mainly for search-and-rescue operations and that any surveillance would require judicial authorization. He said the sheriff’s office provided a draft policy on the agenda packet and would find a place on the county website to publish it. Barge said the county had received donations to help fund the purchase and planned public demonstrations for donors and the broader public once staff were trained.
Key operational details presented: the sheriff’s office expects to accept the vendor quote within a 30-day window, pursue licensing for operators (state- and/or federal-level licensing was discussed), and aims for licensed operators to be ready by mid-July. Barge said the office intends to license up to eight personnel so multiple trained operators are available, and the office will maintain an audit trail and reporting process for every use.
Commissioners asked about timelines and demonstrations; Barge said he hoped mid-July for licensing and that demonstrations would be scheduled across the county, including Lake City. No members of the public objected during the hearing. The board took no vote at the hearing; Barge said the formal purchase would be on a future agenda for approval.
Why this matters: A law-enforcement drone raises public-safety benefits (search-and-rescue, reduced risk to personnel) and privacy questions. The sheriff’s office described judicial limits on surveillance and an internal reporting structure to track deployments.
Next steps: The sheriff’s office plans to seek board approval of the purchase at the June 3 meeting, post the draft policy on the county website and schedule demonstrations for donors and the public.
