Madison precinct

Metro Nashville Council will vote on a bill to restrict police drone use following an unapproved pilot program. The bill requires prior approval for drone deployment except in emergencies and expands surveillance technology definitions, addressing concerns over transparency, flight demographics, and data retention.

The Metro Nashville Police Department's Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program at Madison Precinct faces criticism for bypassing city council approval, short video-retention periods, and insufficient oversight. Community Review Board members raised concerns about potential disproportionate surveillance in marginalized communities and the lack of independent audits. The program, intended to provide real-time emergency data, has faced delays and operates with a 7-day automatic video-deletion policy unless flagged for evidence.

The Nashville Community Review Board reviewed the Metro Nashville Police Department's drone program, which uses three drones for emergency response within a two-mile radius of the Madison precinct. The drones, equipped with thermal cameras and capable of reading license plates from 800 feet, are prohibited from using weapons or facial recognition. While the program has aided in recent arrests, community advocates have raised privacy and transparency concerns.