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Poplar Bluff council authorizes $150,000 BJA grant application to buy drones and UTV for missing-person searches
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 20-67 authorizing submission of a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant application (no local match) to purchase three FLIR-capable drones and a utility terrain vehicle for search-and-rescue and missing-person investigations; council vote was 5–0.
The Poplar Bluff City Council on Feb. 17 adopted Resolution 20-67 authorizing submission of a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant application to buy three drones and a side-by-side utility terrain vehicle for use in locating missing persons, particularly those with dementia, autism or developmental disabilities.
Officer Lemons, who presented the proposal, said the grant (identified in discussion as a $150,000 BJA opportunity) requires no local match and includes training. "Each drone is about $25,000. They all have FLIR capabilities, thermal imaging…mapping software," he said, adding the department plans to allocate three drones across patrol shifts and CID and to make drones available to the fire department on request.
Lemons told the council that Poplar Bluff logged about 75 missing-person reports in 2025 and described the program as time-sensitive for searches where subjects are often attracted to water. He said mutual-aid arrangements with Butler County mean the capability would serve the region; staff also said smaller departments nearby may lack drone programs.
Councilors discussed the tight application timeline; staff said the submission would authorize the mayor and city officials to execute related documents. The council approved the resolution by roll call (five yes votes).
Next steps: City staff will finalize the BJA application and, if awarded, implement the drone program with FAA-certified pilots, training, and allocation of equipment to patrol vehicles and CID.
