FLAGSAFF — The City of Flagstaff is considering the addition of Drones as First Responders to the resources used in providing public safety to the community. The use of drones can improve response times due to their ability to move beyond traffic and trains. The drones create efficiencies by getting eyes on the ground quickly so the City knows what public safety resources are needed. Like body worn cameras, this drone footage will be beneficial evidence to support attorneys, judges, jury members, and victims.
Technology Privacy Task Force
This journey to consider the use of drones in Flagstaff began with the Technology Privacy Task Force. The City began a Technology Privacy Task Force to examine proposals for new technology and provide input and recommendations to protect the privacy and civil liberties of Flagstaff residents. The Task Force began meeting in March 2026 and discussed drones in March, April, and May to provide feedback important to inform potential operations and administrative orders.
Community Input
The journey continued with three community meetings where information about the potential drones as first responders’ program was shared and residents could ask questions. During this meeting we heard:
- Strong support for the opportunity to engage in discussion on drones and expect ongoing transparency and accountability.
- An expectation for oversight to ensure administrative orders are followed.
- Clear limits on the use of drones to respond to calls of service for violent and property crime and not used for random surveillance.
- Drones would only activate when on scene and would not be equipped with facial recognition or license plate reading capabilities.
- Questions about who may have access to the data and if the data would be shared with any other law enforcement agencies.
- Strong interest in how the drone program would support fire response, emergency medical services and life-saving operations, emergency management, and special events.
- Support for coordination with FAA, Airport, and Guardian Air.
- Questions about how the drones are deployed following the call to the 9-1-1 Communications Center.
- Desire for continued conversations, oversight, and review of changes to administrative orders or operations.
Future Engagement
The City will utilize feedback from the community meetings and the Technology Privacy Task Force to inform a draft administrative order. Additional community engagement opportunities will be scheduled before presenting information to City Council in December.
Follow the process on Connect Flagstaff at https://connect.flagstaffaz.gov/drones