Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Technology topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves purchase of drones and related equipment for Police Department
Summary
Council approved a resolution authorizing purchase of drones, batteries, chargers and related hardware for the Police Department’s real‑time operations; deployment and training details were described in general terms.
The Birmingham City Council approved a resolution authorizing the Birmingham Police Department to purchase 16 aircraft (drones), additional batteries and charging equipment, remote pilot command hardware and related items from Atlanta Drone Group, Inc., as read into the record under Item 3.
Council members praised the purchase as a tool for improving situational awareness and reducing response times; Council member Williams noted the technology had helped neighboring Hoover and said the investment “has been really successful in our neighboring municipality.”
Chief Mitchell (referred to in the meeting) said the department currently has four certified pilots and will add more; deployment will be coordinated through the real‑time crime center and the precincts. When asked about the logistics of deployment, Chief Mitchell declined to give operational detail, saying deployments “will be all deployed from the real time scribe scene in in certain locations.”
Council approved the resolution on a voice vote during the meeting. The transcript does not record a detailed roll call tally or a clear contract dollar amount in the read-out; the item was recorded as approved at the meeting.
