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Irvington trustees authorize police drone purchase with state grant funding
Summary
Trustees authorized a five‑year drone purchase for police use at a total cost of $62,845, to be paid from a New York State technology grant; the board discussed operational uses, training and limits on capabilities.
The Village of Irvington authorized the purchase of drones for police operations under a five‑year agreement, with the resolution specifying a total cost of $62,845 and funding designated from a New York State technology grant so that no village operating funds are required.
Trustees discussed the drone’s uses and limitations. Officials said the village has previously deployed drones and trained operators and that the equipment is intended for functions such as assessing roadway and storm damage after severe weather, documenting hazards (downed trees, flooding, utility lines), supporting missing‑person searches in wooded areas and providing situational awareness in locations that are difficult for officers to reach safely.
The meeting record contains an inconsistency between the purchase motion and the resolved clause: the motion mentions Axon Enterprise Inc. while the resolved clause names Tucson Enterprises as the vendor. The board did not resolve that discrepancy on the record; trustees said the acquisition would be covered by a state grant. Chief Pnatelli told the board that the department’s drones are standard law‑enforcement apparatus and, he said, are not equipped for license‑plate or facial recognition.
The board moved and seconded the authorization and the chair called the question; the resolution passed. Trustees asked the administrator to provide additional operational details at a later meeting, including the equipment model, training requirements, and any water rescue adaptations suggested in the discussion.
