Tallahassee PD Forced to Switch to Pricier, Less Capable US Drones After $75K Grant

Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) is making a mandated switch to American-made drones, backed by a $75,000 grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, despite concerns about reduced capabilities, according to a report from ABC27.

Current Drone Program Under Pressure

TPD’s existing drone fleet serves multiple critical functions – from monitoring large events to finding missing persons. Public Information Officer Damon Miller emphasizes their value: “It allows us to get a Birds Eye view inside of residences without putting officers in harm’s way.”

The Capability Gap

The transition to American-made drones isn’t without its challenges. Law enforcement agencies across Florida report significant limitations with approved replacements, including:

• Reduced night operations capability
• Lower quality cameras and thermal imaging
• Concerning safety issues (one approved model reportedly caught fire in a patrol vehicle)

The Price of Compliance

Thanks to a 2022 Florida law requiring law enforcement to ditch drones from non-approved manufacturers, TPD must replace three existing drones. Each new American replacement comes with a hefty $25,000 price tag – likely offering less bang for more buck than their Chinese predecessors.

Silver Lining

Instead of scrapping the existing drones, TPD plans to donate them to local university research programs. The Tallahassee City Commission has backed the transition with unanimous support for accepting the grant funding.

DroneXL’s Take

While this shift aligns with broader data security concerns in public safety operations, it highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing security with capability in law enforcement drone programs. The capability gap between domestic and foreign drone technology remains a critical issue that affects public safety operations.

Have thoughts about the tradeoffs between drone security and capability? Drop your comments below.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​