EVERETT, APRIL 15: The Everett City Council approved a pilot program that will allow police to use drones to reduce response times and enhance policing. The council also greenlit a second-year purchase of the Flock Safety Camera Program.
Drones as a First Responder
During the Wednesday, April 9 council meeting, the Council approved a one-year trial of the Drones as a First Responder (DFR) program.
The DFR program is owned by Flock Safety, a company that creates crime-reducing surveillance technology. The Everett Police Department (EPD) partnered with Flock Safety last year, purchasing license plate reader cameras and pan tilt cameras.
The program could be implemented as soon as June, with one drone operating in the north and another in south Everett.
The DFR platform is fully remote and delivers rapid aerial support, arriving on the scene before patrol resources to facilitate faster responses to high-priority calls. A drone on average can arrive on scene in roughly 90 seconds, Chief John DeRousse said during Wednesday’s council meeting.
Flock Safety has supplied one drone with a loading dock at no cost to be used during the trial period. To fully take advantage of the trial, EPD will purchase a second drone at a discounted rate of $50,000.
If the program proves to be effective after the trial period, it will cost the city roughly $300,000 to implement the program. The department is actively looking for grants and alternative funding sources, DeRousse said. This program will not be paid for from the city general fund.
During the meeting, council members raised questions on how the program would be funded after the trial period and impacts on civil liberties. The proposal passed in a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember Liz Vogeli dissenting.
Flock Safety Cameras approved for another year
The Everett Police Department will use $253,900 in grant funds to pay for a second year of the Flock Safety Camera Program.
This is a continuation of the Flock LPR (license plate recognition) Program, which provides cameras throughout the city designated to support police operations and investigations.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs has awarded grant funds received as part of the US Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistant: Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program.
Flock cameras are currently in and around North Jackson Park, Central Lions Park and South Walter Hall Park to help reduce violent crimes. EPD implemented 74 license plate reading cameras and three pan tilt zoom cameras.
This funding will allow EPD to continue this program for another year.
Council Comments:
In celebration of Washington State Arbor Day, the Snohomish County PUD joined with the City of Everett and students from South Everett/Mukilteo Boys & Girls Club to plant 11 trees at Walter E. Hall Park.
Recently the Washington State Department of Ecology announced that King, Pierce and Snohomish County are under a drought advisory. However, Everett’s water utility is not part of this advisory.
“The current outlook for Everett’s water supply is good,” the city said in a press release. Everett’s snowpack is 75% of normal as of April 1. The Spada Reservoir is at 125% of normal storage, which is typical for this time of year.
“Based on current water supply conditions, Everett anticipates it will have enough water for people and fish this summer,” the release said.
The 2025 Monte Cristo Award submissions have been extended to the fall. Monte Cristo Awards is a community-driven award program honoring exceptionally maintained residences, businesses and yards in Everett.
Upcoming:
The Council will vote on an amendment to the 2025 budget Wednesday, April 16, which could allocate money to the city’s Multipurpose Stadium Project and new employees.
The amendment would approve an increase of roughly $200,000 in general government spending. It would also increase the budget in non-general government spending by roughly $2.3 million.
Councilmember Judy Tuohy moved to table the vote because she felt the city was not transparent enough about where funds were going for the stadium project. Council voted 3-2 to move the vote to April 16.
Other:
Compass Health’s Broadway Campus will complete construction in May, councilmember Paula Rhyne said Wednesday.
Named the Marc Healing Center, the center will support the most intensive behavioral health needs of Northwest Washington, providing several health services, a 16-bed evaluation and treatment unit (E&T); a 16-bed crisis triage center and more. The Marc Healing Center is slated to open as soon as July.
The next National Hands Off! protest in Everett is scheduled for 12-2 p.m. Saturday, April 19 and will span three miles of Broadway. Everett’s protest will also include a food drive for the Volunteers of America of Western Washington. The protest will take place from 700 N. Broadway to 41st Street.
Paula Townsell, event coordinator co-lead of the advocacy group Snohomish County Indivisible, shared that 3,500 people were at the Hands Off! protest on Saturday, April 5, in downtown Everett. The national demonstration protested actions taken by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
