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Committee reviews proposed 75-day 'drones-as-first-responders' pilot for Fourth Precinct, voices privacy and security concerns
Summary
The Public Health, Safety, and Equity Committee heard a multi-department presentation on May 13, 2026, proposing a 75-day trial of Skydio drones in the Fourth Precinct to speed response to Priority 0 and 1 9-1-1 calls; councilmembers praised potential response-time gains but pressed for cost analysis, public hearings, and safeguards against surveillance and vendor vulnerabilities.
On May 13, 2026, the Public Health, Safety, and Equity Committee heard a detailed proposal to test "Drones as First Responders" in the Fourth Precinct.
Andy Scootman, chief of staff for the Office of Community Safety, introduced the concept and said the goal is faster situational awareness so first responders can make better-informed decisions. "This technology is not intended to replace human interaction," Scootman said; instead, he said, drones could arrive before officers or firefighters to provide live video to dispatch and crews en route.
Commander Thomas Campbell of the Minneapolis Police Department, who oversees the department's drone program, told the committee MPD has operated drones since 2022 and proposed a free 75-day trial with the vendor Skydio. He said the pilot would place two drone docks atop Fire Station 14 to serve the Fourth Precinct and that the SkyDio X10 model can operate in rain or snow, sustain…
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