Council approves $450,000 two‑year drone first‑responder system funded largely by state grant

The Colony City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a two‑year contract with Flock Group Inc. for a first‑responder drone system and associated radar at a total contract value of $450,000, to be paid using a combination of a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant and city general fund match.

Police Chief Foxall told council the system is intended to reduce response time and improve officer safety by providing an aerial view that can be launched from a dock on the police department roof. Chief Foxall said typical drone response time from launch to arrival is under about 86 seconds and that the system can increase search‑and‑rescue and vehicle‑theft response performance. "It increases safety, reduces response time, and increases the effectiveness and efficiency of our staff," he said.

The grant award covers most of the first‑year drone cost; the city match for year one is $25,000 and the grant is reimbursement‑based, Chief Foxall said. The department has obtained FAA authorizations (COA and BVLOS waiver) to operate the docked system at higher altitudes with ground‑based radar awareness, he added.

Privacy, training and transparency featured in council questions. Chief Foxall described internal policy limits on proactive patrol, automatic flight logging, a public flight dashboard and CJIS‑compliant cloud storage for footage. Flock representatives said the dock and infrastructure are U.S.‑based and the vendor can swap an American‑made aircraft if future legislation prohibits certain manufacturers.

Council moved and passed the resolution. Staff said deployment and installation work is already underway and that operational capability could be achieved in the coming weeks to months depending on deployment work and testing.