Cleveland Proposes Drone First Responder System for Public Safety
The Cleveland Department of Public Safety is seeking to implement a new Drone First Responder System to assist emergency services. Under emergency ordinance 1379-2026, the Director of Public Safety would be authorized to enter into contracts with Skydio, Inc. to provide the necessary technology and professional services for the program.
What's in the file
The ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Safety to contract with Skydio, Inc. for a one-year term, with the option to renew for up to four additional one-year periods. The contract would cover several components essential to the system, including:
- Hardware and software
- Connectivity
- Maintenance
- Implementation and training
- Other related professional services
Drone First Responder (DFR) setups typically rely on drones stationed at specific launch sites that can be deployed remotely and rapidly to reach an incident Source Name. These tools are designed to provide first responders with additional resources to protect lives and improve public safety Source Name.
Who may be affected
- Director of Public Safety: Authorized to enter into the specified contracts.
- Skydio, Inc.: Named as the service provider for the system.
- Department of Public Safety: The primary department implementing the new technology.
Status and timeline
2026-11-05: The emergency ordinance was introduced and received its first reading.
Residents can verify the details of this legislation by reviewing the official record for File No. 1379-2026 on the Cleveland City Council website.
Key facts
- Contract duration
- one year
- Renewal options
- four one-year options
Source record
- File
- 1379-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- First Reading
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- November 4, 2026