Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves police drone purchase after privacy debate; one councilmember dissents
Summary
After a lengthy discussion about privacy safeguards and policy, the City of Wyoming council approved a purchase of two police drone bundles to expand the department’s fleet, with one councilmember voting no. Council asked for and received excerpts of the department’s UAS policy before the vote.
The Wyoming City Council voted to accept a quote to purchase two drone bundles for the police department, increasing the fleet from one drone to three, following a prolonged discussion about public safety uses and privacy protections.
A police official described routine uses for the drones — searching for suspects who flee on foot, providing a bird’s-eye view at public events, documenting fatal crash scenes and assisting tactical operations — and said the aircraft can use thermal imaging. “It’s a huge game changer for officer safety and also for locating suspects,” the official said.
Residents and one council member urged caution. A resident said she was “uncomfortable” with increasing surveillance and asked to review the department’s UAS policy before voting. In response, the captain read a portion of the policy aloud, emphasizing prohibited uses: the policy bars personal use to harass or intimidate, forbids intentional recording of areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy (for example, a private yard) absent exigent circumstances or a warrant, and requires adherence to FAA visual-line-of-sight rules. “Absent a warrant or exigent circumstances, operators and observers shall adhere to Federal Aviation Administration altitude regulations, and shall not intentionally record or transmit images of any location for which a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy,” the captain read.
Police staff said flight video used as evidence is stored through the department’s Axon system and associated with case numbers; flight logs are also kept in the department’s drone-management software. The funding in the resolution covers the two drones, controllers, batteries, cases, spotlights and related accessories; training costs and pilot licensing were described as separate departmental training expenses.
Council discussed whether to table the vote to receive a full copy of the policy; the mayor noted staff could provide the policy and that the department completes an annual report on drone use that includes counts of flights and operations. After discussion, council moved forward and approved the purchase by roll call. The vote recorded one no from Council member Hosler; the remaining members voted yes.
The council action included a budget amendment referenced in the resolution and directs procurement to accept the quoted equipment. The council also requested that staff make the UAS policy available to members and that the department’s annual UAS report continue to be produced.
