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Minneapolis committee holds hearing using drones as first responders

By FOX 9 Staff
Minneapolis City Council
Published July 8, 2026 1:59 PM CDT
Published July 8, 2026 1:59 PM CDT

The Brief

    • Minneapolis City Council members are reviewing a potential contract with Skydio, Inc. for a "drones as first responders" pilot program.
    • Drones would be deployed in response to 911 calls, acting as an aerial resource to help officers make informed decisions before arriving on scene.
    • Minnetonka police have already implemented the technology, reporting drones were first on scene 65% of the time out of approximately 600 flights.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis City Council members are holding a public hearing on Wednesday on a police program that would use drones as first responders.

Drones as first responders in Minneapolis

What we know:

The council is considering a contract with Skydio, Inc for the "drones as first responders" pilot program.

Under the contract, drones would be deployed to help police respond faster and more efficiently to 911 calls. The drones would serve as an "eye in the sky" for emergency responders before crews get on scene, allowing for them to make informed decisions. The drones would also help first responders root out unfounded or false calls quicker.

Minneapolis considering using drones as first responders to 911 calls
Minneapolis considering using drones as first responders to 911 calls

Minneapolis considering using drones as first responders to 911 calls

The Minneapolis Police Department is considering joining a small, but growing trend in Minnesota. On Wednesday, city staff will present a drones as first responders pilot program to the public health, safety and equity committee. FOX 9's Maury Glover has more.

Local perspective:

In May, FOX 9 spoke with the Minnetonka Police Department, which is already utilizing the technology. Minnetonka police say out of roughly 600 flights, drones were first to the scene 65% of the time. In about one out of every five cases, they were able to clear the call without sending an officer.

Six drones cost Minnetonka police about $260,000 a year to operate. But the department says the drones will save them money in the long run.

"I do think this is the future of law enforcement. It's smart. You know, equip your officers with the right information. They're going to make better decisions. And this is a really useful tool to be able to do that," Deputy Chief Jason Tait told FOX 9.

Other departments are also using similar drone programs, including Duluth and Brooklyn Park. Edina also began testing their program this year.

Minneapolis is considering implementing a drones as first responders program. (FOX 9)

Public hearing on drones

What's next:

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday afternoon as part of the Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee meeting.

FOX 9 will carry part of the public hearing on All Day. You can watch it live here.

Minneapolis City CouncilMinneapolis