City of Bloomington Council approves drone police department drone installation

City of Bloomington Council approves drone police department drone installation

Written by Bella Marello on October 1, 2026

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The City of Bloomington Council unanimously approved the $110,000 installation of police drones.

“There’re several agencies around the state that are taking this technology and using it as a force multiplier for their missions and their communities, and we see fit that we need to do this here as well,” Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington said.

Ward 7 Council Member Mollie Ward pulled this item from the consent agenda during the council’s meeting Monday night.

“This is a topic that has caught public attention,” Ward said. “We have a duty as a city council to perhaps take a pause when we’re looking at any item that deals with surveillance cameras and drones.”

Simington and Drone Program Co-coordinator Kevin Raisbeck presented drone details and statistics to the council.

Simington said the drones will enhance officer and community safety.

“We will use technology appropriately and responsibly according to law and ethically,” Simington said.

The drone flight path data can be viewed by the public on the Bloomington Police Department’s websit...