Charlotte greenlights drone use for CMPD, companies will compete for contract
The city of Charlotte is moving forward with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s plan to incorporate drones into local policing.
An online listing on a state government portal, uploaded on May 30, said the city will begin soliciting proposals from drone companies Tuesday at 10 a.m. The listing states that CMPD will use the drones for “rapid deployment in emergency situations, surveillance, search and rescue, traffic management, and crime scene monitoring.”
By adding drones to CMPD’s technology arsenal, the listing reads, the department would “enhance public safety, improve response times, and optimize situational awareness during critical incidents.”
Skydio, a California-based drone manufacturer, is one of the companies planning to submit a proposal.
At a January event, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings announced the department’s plans to use drones as first responders. He also said CMPD policies would ensure officers did not misuse the technology.
A spokesperson for the city of Charlotte could not immediately be reached for comment early Monday evening.
At least 1,400 police departments were using drones nationwide as of 2023. Drone use in local law enforcement has skyrocketed since the Federal Aviation Administration implemented guidelines in 2016 around the technology.
The Monroe Police Department recently implemented drone technology through Paladin, a Texas-based drone company. On June 25, Monroe officers used a drone to track down a violent offender who had fled into a wooded area, police said.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
