Drones on the City Watch: Minneapolis’ New Idea

Minneapolis is thinking about adding drones to its emergency toolkit. City Council member LaTrisha Vetaw has asked staff to investigate how drones might help with 911 calls. The goal is to see if a drone can reach an incident faster than people on the ground, give first responders a better view of the scene, and capture evidence when crimes happen. Examples include illegal dumping or quick‑fire vehicle damage cases. Staff will study other cities that already use drones in first‑response roles.They must also ensure the program respects privacy, transparency and civil rights, which are core to Minneapolis values. The cost is still unclear. A nearby city, Minnetonka, plans to spend about $265, 000 a year on its drone program. Because several departments could use the same drones, Minneapolis hopes to spread costs and make it more affordable. The Office of Community Safety had looked into drones before but paused because of money and staffing limits. Now the proposal will go to city council committees for discussion before a full vote can happen.