Amherst City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the city to participate in the Drones for First Responders program.
The ordinance, listed as A-26-15, was passed as an emergency measure, allowing it to take effect immediately.
City officials said the program will be funded through a two-year grant, allowing Amherst to launch the initiative with no upfront cost.
Police Chief Cawthon said the city was approached by the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency about participating in the program. He explained the system involves a “drone-in-a-box,” which would be stationed at the police department and can be deployed remotely to provide real-time visuals during emergency calls.
From the time a call is received, the drone can be deployed and en route within approximately 90 seconds, allowing officers to gain situational awareness before arriving on scene.
Officials said the program could also create opportunities for future expansion and coordination across Lorain County.
Council members raised questions about how the drones would operate, including line-of-sight requirements and deployment methods. Chief Cawthon said operators would typically be located at the station and that the program includes a required waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow extended operation.
The drone may be dispatched through the city’s existing dispatch system, though final operational details are still being worked out.
Council members also discussed privacy concerns. The chief said the drone’s cameras are programmed to face forward while traveling to a scene and will not point toward the ground until reaching the destination. He emphasized the drones would not be used for general surveillance, but only in response to active calls for service.
Officials noted the city already has drone policies in place, and those guidelines would apply to the new program. There was also discussion about making those policies publicly available.
While the first two years of the program are covered by the grant, officials said future costs could range between $25,000 and $50,000 per drone annually, depending on the system selected. The city would have the option to discontinue the program if costs are deemed too high after the grant period.
The measure was advanced out of committee with emergency status and later approved by council, allowing the city to move forward with implementation.