Laserfiche WebLink
C,rY 4F 55}« AaV <br />City of Sunny Isles Beach <br />18070 Collins Avenue <br />Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 <br />(305) 947-0606 City Hall <br />(305) 949-3113 Fax <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners <br />VIA: Stan Morris, City Manager <br />FROM: Edward Santiago, Chief of Police <br />DATE: January 16, 2025 <br />RE: Drone as First Responder Program Purchase from Axon <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Staff recommends approval of this Resolution. <br />REASONS: <br />The City Manager continues to challenge the Police Department to leverage the latest technology to <br />find innovative ways to keep the residents and visitors of Sunny Isles Beach safe. We are seeking <br />approval to purchase a drone as first responder program from Axon for $204,103.00. This program will <br />include the purchase and installation of a drone nest on the roof of the Government Center. The nest <br />will house a drone that can be launched from the Police Communications Center without an operator <br />needing to visually see the drone. The operator will have the ability to fly the drone from the <br />Communications Center by directing it to areas in the city on a map using the existing Hiperwall. The <br />drone will fly autonomously to the location and allow first responders to live stream video and record <br />when needed to different platforms. Most times the drone will beat first responders to a location and <br />the information being collected will be crucial to an enhanced response. The drones are being operated <br />on a 5G network using artificial intelligence that has obstacle avoidance. <br />There are a multitude of different calls for service the drone can be used for to assist our officers. Florida <br />State Statutes dictate when the drones can be used and for what type of police responses. The program <br />will include applying to the FAA for approval to be able to operate the drone without a visual observer. <br />Additionally it will include the requisite training for our operators and will also include a representative <br />from Axon being present for 100 hours to ensure successful launch to the program. <br />Item Number: 9.E <br />219 <br />