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Council approves drone purchase amid public privacy questions; police cite officer-safety uses
Summary
After public commenters pressed for detailed answers about camera capability and privacy protections, the council approved the purchase of additional unmanned aerial vehicles for public-safety use; police told the council drones are used for missing-persons searches and officer safety and that local data remains under law-enforcement control.
Council approved a consent-agenda item to purchase additional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Amarillo Police Department and related public-safety uses after public comment raised technical and privacy questions.
Public commenters asked whether the systems have cameras, whether they include license-plate-recognition or real-time fusion analytics, how many drones the city would ultimately buy (staff said the city currently operates multiple aircraft and was considering two additional UAVs) and whether purchases comply with Texas House Bill 1631. City staff agreed to pull the item for discussion and to supply details before the vote; after staff and police answered questions the council approved the item.
APD overview and usage: Lieutenant Chadwick and other PD officials described the department's existing drone program (launched publicly in 2022), noting roughly 3,923 missions and more than 850 flight hours across different aircraft and uses. PD said drones are primarily used for officer safety (providing eyes on a scene before officers arrive), missing-person searches (thermal imaging that can find a child hiding in cover), flood and facility mapping, and support for fire and emergency response. Staff emphasized that data is managed locally and that operations comply with FAA rules and state law.
Privacy concerns and safeguards: Residents urged the council to ensure strong policies about what sensors can be used, limits on data retention and who can access footage. Police said the city is developing operational policies and invited the public to upcoming open-house demonstrations at the Amarillo Regional Crime Center to show how data are handled.
What passed: The council approved the UAV purchase on the consent agenda after the staff presentation and discussion of safeguards; the meeting record shows the consent vote carried.
