Police Department drone program | southborough.infohttps://southborough.info/issues/police-drone-program/2026-10-15T23:35:55-04:00Municipal Technology Committee, Thu, Aug 27: Public safety drone procurement reviewhttps://southborough.info/topics/OyfCzyf7Z6k/12026-08-27T12:00:00ZPolice Chief Ryan Newell presented the department's proposed five-year drone program, featuring the Skydio X10 airframe integrated into Axon Evidence. The committee discussed technical capabilities, procurement financing, and operational safeguards to protect resident privacy. Members voted unanimously to recommend moving forward under a conditional framework featuring pre-deployment verification, a limited initial pilot, and formal reviews after 90 days and 12 months. Outcome: Recommended conditional approval of the drone purchase and phased deployment on a 4-0 vote.Select Board, Mon, Jun 29: Police Department drone purchase and bottom-line budget spendinghttps://southborough.info/topics/eJY0jkb5BOE/02026-06-29T12:00:00ZThe board evaluated whether to authorize the police chief to use surplus department funds from the closing fiscal year to acquire an Axon outdoor drone package. The Capital Improvement Planning Committee previously voted 3-0 to recommend the drone purchase itself, leaving the funding mechanism to the Select Board. Board members debated whether bypassing Town Meeting by using bottom-line spending set an inappropriate financial precedent, while the police chief emphasized urgent local safety needs and lengthy dispatch delays when relying on mutual aid drones. Outcome: Approved 3-2Capital Improvement and Planning Committee, Wed, Jun 24: Police Department drone program capital requesthttps://southborough.info/topics/Vb4kjdWsVU8/12026-06-24T12:00:00ZPolice Chief Ryan Newell presented a proposal to launch a department drone program using $105,000 in unspent fiscal year 2026 personnel funds before the fiscal year concludes. The five-year package through Axon includes hardware, software, maintenance, training, and a mid-contract equipment refresh. Committee members debated the financial policy implications of utilizing operating budget surplus to fund a major capital acquisition rather than letting funds close out to free cash for a Town Meeting vote. Outcome: Voted 3-0 to support the drone program as an immediate safety priority on the capital plan while recommending the Select Board conduct a financial policy review regarding the funding source and timing.Select Board, Tue, Jun 16: Police Department bottom-line spending and drone requesthttps://southborough.info/topics/mCf5Dw5Wi6c/42026-06-16T12:00:00ZPolice Chief Ryan Newell requested permission to use $118,000 in department and dispatch salary surplus from unfilled positions for equipment, repairs, and a five-year American-made drone program priced at $105,000. Board members supported safety gear such as AED batteries, medical bags, and cruiser ballistic plates, but objected to funding a major drone purchase through year-end operational transfers instead of vetting it through the Capital Committee and Town Meeting. Outcome: Approved 5-0 without the drone purchase