Atlantic Beach police seek state grant for drone response program

Atlantic Beach police plan to add a drone to their emergency response toolkit, pending a City Commission vote on a state grant.

The commission is scheduled to consider accepting a $8,845.96 grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement through its Drone as First Responder program.

READ: ‘Unless you’re a criminal, you don’t have an issue’: JSO launches Drone as First Responder Program

The item is on the consent agenda for the commission’s 6 p.m. meeting Monday.

The resolution, if approved, also involves a required local cash match of $8,845.97. It would authorize the police chief to sign the state financial assistance agreement and the city manager to execute all other documents needed to carry out the grant.

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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office launched its own drone-as-first-responder program in July. The program uses drones to scout a scene before officers arrive, which helps officers avoid danger and plan a response.

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