Florida police department to launch new drone program with Skydio technology

The city of Coconut Creek in the US state of Florida is preparing to expand its use of advanced law enforcement technology as city commissioners review a proposal to equip the police department with new drones, software, and training resources.

The initiative follows several recent moves toward tech-enabled policing. Last year, officials approved the installation of speed-detection cameras in school zones, a program slated to launch in January. Earlier in the autumn, the commission also authorized the use of US$28,000 from the city’s federal law enforcement trust fund to acquire a specialized drone and robot for the SWAT team.

Last week, commissioners considered accepting a $100,000 state grant earmarked for the purchase of four drones. According to city documents, they have also considered allocating an additional $100,000 from the law enforcement trust fund to secure the supporting software package required to run the new systems.

Coconut Creek currently has no drones in operation, police spokesperson Scott Leamon told local media. The city aims to build a drone capability that can support searches for missing or endangered people, assist in locating crime suspects, and provide overwatch during large-scale events.

The department does not yet have any trained drone pilots but plans to certify six officers using funds provided through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement grant.

According to police officials, the department intends to procure the aircraft and a five-year software package from Skydio. The software subscription costs $20,000 annually and will provide command staff with mobile and desktop access to live video feeds, unlimited cloud storage for recorded imagery, and technical support. These details were outlined in a memo from Police Chief Fred Hofer to City Manager Sheila Rose.

St Cloud Police Department recently became central Florida’s first agency to field a full drone-as-first-responder (DFR) program.