Police Policy Oversight Commission Meeting - December 2, 2025

The final meeting of the 2025 calendar year for the Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission convened to review the Drone as a First Responder program and address ongoing debates regarding the Commission's governing rules of procedure. Commissioner Kyle Fisher presided over the session, which began with the unanimous approval of the September 9th minutes and the adoption of the current agenda. The meeting focused on a detailed presentation by the Rochester Police Department regarding their drone operations, followed by a significant deliberation on the Commission's bylaws, which resulted in a decision to defer further rule amendments pending legal and operational clarity.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The Commission unanimously voted to approve the minutes from the September 9, 2025 meeting.
• Agenda Adoption: The agenda for the December 2, 2025 meeting was unanimously adopted without discussion.
• Public Comment: No members of the public stepped forward to offer testimony during the 15-minute public comment period.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The Commission Chair noted a potential media representative in attendance but determined no public testimony would be offered. Consequently, the meeting proceeded directly to agenda items.

Discussion Items

Drone as a First Responder Program

Commissioner Kyle Fisher and City Attorney provided context for a presentation by Rochester Police Department detectives Alex Kendrick and management analyst Jeff Savaki regarding the department's drone program.

Presentation Highlights:

• Program Overview: The program, operating under the brand "drone as a first responder," utilizes a "crawl, walk, run" implementation strategy. Currently, two SkyDio dock-based drones are deployed at the Police North Precinct and the Art Center downtown, allowing for approximately 20-23 minutes of flight time per charge.
• Statistics: As of December 3, 2025, the program had logged 573 flights since mid-September.
  • The drone arrives on scene before officers in approximately 60% of calls.
  • Drones cleared calls entirely without an officer's physical presence in approximately 14% of instances.
• Operational Impact: Commissioners and speakers noted the drone acts as a "force multiplier," allowing a single pilot to cover the city remotely and reducing the need for multiple officers to secure perimeters. The system includes thermal and visual sensors that record simultaneously, with footage uploaded to the evidence server upon landing.
• Policy and Compliance:
  • Statutory Adherence: Police Chief Kendrick affirmed that the department's policy strictly mirrors Minnesota statute, which permits drone use only under 11 specific conditions (e.g., risk of death, bodily harm, missing persons, or specific criminal activity). General surveillance is prohibited.
  • Transparency: The department maintains a public portal on the police website displaying flight paths and statutory reasons for flights, which undergoes a delay to protect ongoing criminal investigations.
  • Data Deletion: Recordings not deemed evidence in a criminal case are mandated by statute to be deleted within seven days of landing.
• Capabilities and Limitations:
  • The drones operate beyond visual line of sight due to an FAA Part 107 waiver.
  • Safety features include automatic return-to-home if connectivity is lost and parachute deployment to protect people on the ground in the event of a battery failure.
  • The system does not currently allow for officers in the field to autonomously launch or control the drone without a certified pilot; however, control can be transferred between certified pilots.

Bylaws and Rules of Procedure

The Commission discussed the conflict between its current "Rules of Procedure and Operation" and a standardized document adopted by the City Council for all advisory boards, which was labeled "Rules of Procedure and Operation" rather than "Bylaws."

• Confusion and Discrepancy: City Attorney highlighted that the Commission had been operating under a customized document without realizing a City Council-mandated standardized version exists. The Mayor noted that while the Council prefers standardization to ensure a consistent experience across all boards, the Commission's specific ordinance grants it the authority to set its own rules to address nuances like incident review.
• Scope of Authority:
  • The City Attorney and Mayor clarified that substantive changes (such as quorum definitions or ratification requirements) likely require City Council approval, whereas minor procedural adjustments (like meeting times) could be handled as addendums.
  • Commissioner Fisher expressed concern that the Commission had been reviewing potential bylaw amendments for a year without full clarity on the governing framework.
• Key Concerns:
  • The integration of the Commission's incident review role and the definition of the Professional Standards Manager's role were identified as high-priority but complex issues that require further understanding.
  • Commissioner Fisher and others noted that the current rule regarding an 80% attendance requirement is impractical given the shift to monthly meetings for a seven-member commission.

Key Outcomes

• Tabled Bylaw Discussion: The Commission voted unanimously to table all discussions regarding changes to the Rules of Procedure/Bylaws. The motion was carried to allow the Commission to:
  1. Receive a clearer understanding of the Professional Standards Manager's role and the current complaint process.
  2. Obtain official review and guidance from the Mayor's Office and City Council regarding which document governs the Commission and the scope of their authority to amend rules.
• Next Steps:
  • The Commission will request input from the City Council and Mayor regarding the specific documents they must operate under before the next meeting.
  • Professional Standards Manager representation is requested for the next meeting to explain the complaint investigation role.
• Adjournment: The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, with the Commission aiming to have a definitive governing document identified before proceeding with bylaw amendments in 2026.