Committee holds MPD asset-forfeiture spending plan after questions about drones, license-plate cameras and community priorities

The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) presented its annual plan to spend federal asset forfeiture funds and the Finance and Personnel Committee agreed to hold the file for one meeting cycle so members could review federal guidance and discuss community priorities.

Assistant Chief Craig Sarno summarized MPD—s draft plan, which proposed spending roughly $1.2 million on about 87 projects and leaving a roughly $600,000 balance in the trust fund. The department described priorities that include community engagement, leases (including a $100,000 lease for the mounted patrol program at Milwaukee Urban Stables), training and travel, technology upgrades, and equipment. Sarno said equipment would be the largest share (about 52 percent), including an expansion of an airborne assessment (drone) program and a spectral camera for forensics.

MPD presented the drone pilot as an expansion of a 2024 test program during which staff conducted roughly 145 flights; the department seeks to acquire multiple exterior and interior drones and fund training and certification. Sergeant Boss, who described himself as part of the airborne assessment work, said standard operating procedures (SOPs) or operational instructions were drafted and in final review.

Council members pressed several points: some asked MPD to consider purchasing Flock (license-plate) cameras that business improvement districts and neighborhood groups had requested and were reportedly willing to fund; others raised concerns that asset forfeiture funds should not be used to supplant operating budgets and that directing the department how to spend federal equitable-sharing funds could imperil continued participation under new federal guidance (March 2024). MPD staff said the program prohibits governing-body direction on spending decisions and stressed that donations and partnership models (BIDs contributing directly) remain options, but that recurring operating costs (for example ongoing subscription fees) might be more appropriately budget items for 2026.

Several aldermen asked the department for copies of the relevant federal guidance and a clear schedule of recurring costs and one-time purchases. Alderman Peter Bergellis moved that the committee hold the asset forfeiture plan so members could review the guidelines and the department—s proposed allocations; the committee approved the hold. MPD said the hold would delay purchases that require a purchasing process but asked that any delay be minimal to avoid disrupting evidence-handling equipment upgrades and certification timelines.