Lakeway to consider implementing police drones
Posted: Wed, 12 Aug 2026 01:23 PM - 160 Readers
By: Community Impact
Brink Drones presented its drone-as-first-responder (DFR) system to the Lakeway City Council on Aug. 3, describing a network of prepositioned drones linked to 911/CAD that can put eyes on a scene in roughly a minute and potentially clear many low-priority calls without sending ground units. Company representatives highlighted camera payloads, the ability to deliver life-saving items such as AEDs or Narcan, and a public transparency dashboard that logs missions, with markings and lights for visibility. Council members asked specifically about thermal imaging for Lake Travis rescues (effectiveness depends on water temperature and time in the water), battery life (advertised ~42 minutes, operationally closer to 30), data storage and retention, and staffing needs.
The police chief indicated the department would initially try to handle operations by reallocating existing dispatch and pilot personnel rather than adding full-time staff. No procurement decision was made; the demonstration and technical answers will feed into upcoming budget discussions. Warranty, pilot training, and FAA compliance support would be included in any future contract. A public commenter praised the concept while noting cost as a key consideration.
