Murfreesboro Council Approved Police Drone Software
The city council authorized software for two drones after residents blocked a proposed integration with existing cameras.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Murfreesboro City Council approved software licenses for two police drones in mid-September 2026. Officials removed a proposal to integrate the new aerial units with the existing Flock Safety license-plate-reading camera system following public outcry.
Why it matters
Residents expressed significant discomfort regarding the prospect of constant aerial surveillance within the city. Police maintain that the technology serves as a vital investigative tool to help solve local crimes more efficiently.
The city currently hosts 180 Flock license-plate-reading cameras monitoring approximately five square miles. Officials authorized two new drone licenses while state groups are drafting model policies for reader oversight.
The players
Murfreesboro City Council
This is the governing body for the city of Murfreesboro that manages local ordinances and municipal service funding.
Flock Safety
This is a technology company that provides automated license-plate-recognition camera systems used by law enforcement agencies.
Tennessee Sheriffs' Association
This is a professional organization currently working to draft statewide model policies for the use of automated license-plate readers.
Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police
This organization represents law enforcement leadership and is collaborating on standardized statewide policy for surveillance technology.
The details
While the drone licenses were approved, the council stripped out a provision that would have linked the drones directly to the Flock network. Nationwide, Flock Safety operates more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states to assist law enforcement agencies.
Timeline
Mid-September 2026: The City Council approved software licenses for two police drones.
2027: The Tennessee General Assembly is expected to address license-plate reader policy.
Legal Context
The city's move follows a pattern set by the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association's development of statewide model policies for automated license-plate readers. These proposed safeguards include human verification and strict data retention rules to standardize local surveillance.
Residents in the five square miles monitored by existing camera technology may see continued data collection practices. Future statewide policies may eventually mandate new transparency requirements for how police departments in the area handle surveillance data.
The takeaway
Communities are increasingly balancing the utility of investigative surveillance tools against resident privacy concerns. The outcome of the upcoming state legislative session will likely define the long-term standards for camera and drone usage across Tennessee.
What happens next
The Tennessee General Assembly is scheduled to deliberate on statewide license-plate reader policy in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Law Enforcement within the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGNSRadio.
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