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MEMORANDUM To:St. Anthony Village City Council From:Jeff Spiess, Police Chief Date:January 28, 2025 City Council Meeting Subject :Drone Program Presentation BACKGROUND Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, offer advanced capabilities for law enforcement, including enhanced situational awareness, search and rescue operations, and improved public safety outcomes. To proceed with the acquisition and deployment of UAVs, the St. Anthony Police Department has prepared a presentation detailing the benefits and safeguards of the proposed Drone Program. In compliance with Minnesota State Statute 626.19(9), the law requires: 1.Public Comment Opportunity: The law enforcement agency must provide an opportunity for public comment before purchasing or using a UAV. Comments must be accepted electronically and by mail. On December 23, 2024, a News Flash was sent announcing the exploration of the Drone Program, along with placement on the City of St. Anthony Village website. As of this date, 5 comments were received via electronic communications. 2.Governing Body Meeting: The governing body with jurisdiction over the budget of the local law enforcement agency must allow public comment at a regularly scheduled meeting. Also included in the December 23, 2024 announcement, was the notice of the opportunity for public comment during the January 28, 2025 City Council meeting. PRESENTATION The following is a summary of the presentation to be made by Chief Jeff Spiess during the City Council meeting. The purpose of the Drone Program is to serve the mission of the St. Anthony Police Department: To improve the overall quality of life by preserving the peace and safety of the community. There is currently widespread use of drones in Minnesota law enforcement. As of June 2024, 99 Minnesota law enforcement agencies use drones, and all neighboring police departments to St. Anthony have an active drone program. Drones have widespread use in the location of missing and vulnerable persons, improving security for large-scale public events, and to enhance safety for police officers and the community Currently, St. Anthony Police Department has had to rely on outside agencies to assist when the use of a drone is needed. Response is limited to the availability of others. Recently, the use of drones could have been used to assist in locating a missing and vulnerable person, in determining the correct response of officers dispatched to the report of juveniles with firearms, and in locating a burglary suspect inside of a home. 25