Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the Madison Police Department (MPD) to apply for and accept, if awarded, a two-year US Department of Justice (USDOJ) Office of Community Policing Services (COPS Office) Community Policing Development Micrgrant of $200,000. The grant funds a pilot program of using a drone as a first responder, subject to the limitations of MPD's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Funding from the grant would be used for leasing and housing a drone as a first responder (DFR) system ($150,000) and overtime for the operators to provide DFR service ($50,000). No City appropriation is required.
Title
Amending the 2026 Police Department operating budget; and authorizing the Mayor and Chief of Police to apply for and accept a USDOJ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Community Policing Development Microgrant for $200,000 to pilot a drone as first responder program to evaluate its effectiveness as a useful first responder tool that satisfies community needs while also concurrently evaluating its utility for our officers, supervisors, and police administrators
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WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department pursues innovative initiatives to better serve its mission to provide high quality police services that are accessible to all members of the community, believing in the dignity of all people and respecting individual and constitutional rights and seeks to secure non-tax levy funding to do so; and
WHEREAS, the Department seeks to implement a drone as first responder (DFR) pilot project in the West District to evaluate its effectiveness as a useful first responder tool that satisfies community needs while also concurrently evaluating its utility for our officers, supervisors, and police administrators through a U.S. Departments of Justice Office of Community Policing Services (COPS Office) Community Policing Development Microgrant; and
WHEREAS, the Department will also assess whether it can support such a program both fiscally and operationally and document what impediments we encounter through implementation, as well as gather community feedback about its usage; and
WHEREAS, drones can be an effective tool in de-escalating potentially dangerous situations without having an officer physically present, as officers can assess any incident before committing to physical arrival into a potentially dangerous environment (a recent randomized trial showed that 19.5% of calls were resolved by a drone alone), meaning no officer involvement).
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Police Department is authorized to apply for and accept, if awarded, a two-year USDOJ Office of Community Policing Services (COPS Office) Community Policing Development Microgrant of $200,000 for the purposed stated above.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Police 2026 Operating Budget is amended to appropriate any grant funds received to be used for the purposes of the grant, including modifications upon appropriate approvals from the funder, to lease a drone as first responder system, a trailer to house it and overtime for the operators to provide the DFR service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Finance and Police Departments are authorized to establish and/or maintain accounts as required for the administration of the grant funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Finance Director or their designee may enter into a subscription as a service contract with Motorola Solutions for $150,000 for the DFR system.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that grant funds not expended as of December 31, 2026, be carried forward until fully utilized.