Athens City Council has rejected the expansion of a drone program for first responders
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Athens will not support an expanded drone program for first responders after a 5-2 City Council vote rejected the measure.
The council chamber was packed with residents opposed to the proposal, and they listed concerns around civil liberties, immigration enforcement, cost and surveillance.
One resident, Brenda Searcy, summarized the concerns around drone use. “People are terrified,” she said. “People in our town that contribute mightily to our social, cultural, educational and financial well-being do not all have the status of U.S. citizen that makes me less terrified than they are.”
Searcy’s concerns were magnified by other community members who referenced the city’s relationship with Flock Safety. The technology that recently dominated headlines over its abridged partnership with Ring after a controversial Super Bowl ad.
Athens Police uses Flock Safety’s technology in license plate scanning and identification. The program Athens subscribes to allows law enforcement agencies across the state to combine their data. It also gives Athens the ability to access privately owned Flock cameras in neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
“It is likely this data will fall into the hands of federal law enforcement agencies such as ICE and DHS,” said Ben Brewster. “And in fact, this would be mandated if Ohio House Bill 26 is passed.”
H.B. 26 is legislation that would force cities to comply with the enforcement of federal immigration law and share all relevant data about arrestees with federal immigration officials.
Residents implored the city not to expand its drone fleet.
“When we moved here, it was a dream come true,” said Shelley Beard, a resident on Pomeroy Road. “I would delight in my youngest child’s observation of Athens magic. When some random person is kind, and something really nice happens because one of our community members is just going out of their way to be kind and helpful … we don’t need this kind of overreach to keep us safe, we have each other for that.”
After extensive public input, council members divided over what the proposal could mean for the community. Councilmembers Paul Isherwood and Alan Swank spoke to the financial benefits and potential search and rescue assistance.
“We are not tied into continuing to fund the project beyond the two years,” said Isherwood. He listed that his support was contingent on the guardrails the city was suggesting before the meeting. If the measure had passed as proposed, there was no stipulation for the measure to come before the council to be re-approved in two years.
That was a major sticking point for Swank, who suggested the program could be modified to renew it on an annual basis. Swank clashed with people in the crowd holding “NO DRONES” signs while talking about the benefits of the drones.
“In all seriousness, we have rules here,” said Swank. “Could you please put down the signs? I know you have your First Amendment right to expression, but this is not a football game where we are supporting teams.”
Swank was met with people in the crowd who said it “wasn’t really up to him,” and Council President Micah McCarrey affirmed their right to hold the signs.
Councilmember Michael Wood, who defeated the drone proposal when it first came before council last week with a no vote, said this program ran contrary to his beliefs. He expanded his comments, making it clear this program was what he was elected to oppose.
“I did not get elected to take part in giving up our civil liberties,” said Wood. “Did not get elected to take part in adding to the militarization of our police force. I did not get elected to any of those things, and I’m not going to turn my back on them now.”
He was joined by council members Thomas, Clodfelter, Staser and Almeida. Thomas, Clodfelter and Staser all testified to the overwhelming negative community response to the program. They formed the five members behind the no vote.
However, the council plans to revisit civil liberty protections, which were part of the drone proposal, again in committee. It would allow the city to have legislation in place to protect civil liberties when the Athens Police Department deploys drones.