City Of St. Louis Park: Public Invited To Comment On Potential Use Of Tethered Drones By The St. Louis Park Police Department

Press release from the City of St. Louis Park:

February 23, 2022 9:57 a.m.

The St. Louis Park Police Advisory Commission (PAC) invites the public to comment about the potential uses of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, by the St. Louis Park Police Department.

The St. Louis Park Police Department, in coordination with the St. Louis Park Fire Department, has access to two tethered drone devices manufactured by Fotokite. Tethered drones use a permanent physical link to the ground for power and communication, and are used in only a minimal operating area. Municipally owned, tethered drone systems of the type accessible by the police department are exempt from FAA approval (49 U.S. Code 44806(c)(2)) and certifications.

To date, the St. Louis Park Police Department has not deployed a drone. The St. Louis Park Police Department began preparing for a UAS program in 2021 and plans to join numerous other law enforcement agencies in Minnesota in use of the technology.

The tethered drones may be used in the future for training purposes and other public safety operations. For example, they are equipped with a thermal imaging camera that can be used for locating missing people outdoors through heat signatures. Other potential applications include assisting with fugitive searches, documenting severe weather damage and various public displays and community events.

During the 2020 regular legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature established Minnesota State Statute 626.19, which requires the St. Louis Park Police Department to provide an opportunity for public comment prior to the police department’s purchase or use of a drone.

The St. Louis Park Police Advisory Commission wants to hear from the public about the St. Louis Park Police Department’s planned use of drones. Comment in the following ways:

• Comment in-person at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2022, during a regular meeting of the police advisory commission in the council chambers, third floor, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park.
• Email comments to police@stlouispark.org
• Mail written comments to:
  St. Louis Park Police Department
  ATTN: UAS Public Comments (Lt. Garland)
  3015 Raleigh Ave. S.
  St. Louis Park, MN 55416

View the unmanned aerial system operations policy. 

Questions?

Contact Lt. Mike Garland at 952.924.2607 or by email at mgarland@stlouispark.org.

This press release was produced by the City of St. Louis Park. The views expressed here are the author’s own.