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Police chief outlines FY2027 budget, pitches drone-as-first-responder pilot
Summary
At the Board of Finance budget hearing, the Police Chief sought a 5.4% FY2027 increase (2.5% excluding capital), flagged 8 vacancies, and proposed a $50,000-per-year drone-as-first-responder pilot with two-year commitment and FAA waivers for beyond-line-of-sight operations.
The Police Chief presented the Bristol Police Department's FY2027 budget request, saying the department seeks a 5.4% increase overall and a 2.5% rise excluding vehicle capital outlay. He told board members the department currently budgets for eight vacancies and is prioritizing facility upgrades, personnel training, and technology investments.
The chief said the increase includes a capital request for fleet replacements and a proposed drone-as-first-responder (DFR) pilot. 'For fiscal year 2027, we're requesting an increase of 5.4% to our overall budget,' the Police Chief said. He described the DFR pilot as a base-model contract costing $50,000 a year on a two-year commitment and including training, maintenance and FAA waivers to permit beyond-line-of-sight operation.
Board members pressed for details on coverage, resiliency and vendor commitments. The chief said the vendor's specifications claim a roughly 3.5-mile effective range and a 90-second-to-one-mile response time, and that the contract includes training and some warranty coverage. 'For this drone, it'll be 50,000 for a year,' he said. 'It is a 2-year commitment.' Members asked whether the quoted range would reliably cover the city and whether insurance and replacement terms were adequate; the chief said he expected to confirm insurer terms before committing and that the department would pilot the technology before expanding it.
The presentation also reviewed technology and data costs. The chief explained a large licensing and storage line tied to Axon body and dashboard cameras is an ongoing contractual expense rather than a one-time purchase. He also detailed a $25,000 rifle-rebuild line to extend the service life of in-use training rifles, and a $598,000 fleet-cost estimate for vehicle replacements.
No formal action was taken on the police budget at the hearing; department staff agreed to provide more detailed line-item breakouts and follow up on vendor warranties and FAA waiver specifics.
The Board of Finance did not vote on any police budget item at the hearing; next steps are updated line-item materials from staff and further review at subsequent budget sessions.
