The Minneapolis City Council’s Public Health, Safety and Equity committee will hold a public hearing on a proposed pilot program that would deploy drones to 911 calls before first responders arrive. The program, called Drones as First Responders, would involve drones streaming live video to 911 dispatchers and first responders, allowing them to see what’s happening at a scene before they arrive.

Concerns Over Privacy and Transparency

Some residents are concerned that the technology could further militarize local police and lead to invasion of privacy. Sarah Heller, an artist and north Minneapolis resident, said that while police have said drones will be used for rapid emergency response, she’s heard from other city officials that the drones will help identify issues like illegal dumping and illegal auto repair shops.

“There’s also a lot of concern that they’re going to be used outside of the law and outside of whatever stated purpose the police department says they will use them for, and that there will be no oversight or way to push back on that,” Heller said.

Use of Drones by Other Police Departments

Five other Minnesota police departments – St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Minnetonka and Brooklyn Park – already partner with Skydio, the largest drone manufacturer in the country, for drone usage at potential crime scenes. A 2020 Minnesota law limits the use of drones by local law enforcement agencies to specific authorized uses, which include during or in the aftermath of an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or bodily harm to a person.

The Minnesota State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies spent more than $1.3 billion on drones in 2025, according to a report by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The report also showed that Minnesota police agencies are steadily using drones more often in cases where a warrant isn’t needed.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.