HUNTER PANNING
POLICE OFFICER
CHASKA (POPULATION 29,034)

The Chaska Police Department implemented a drone program in April 2024 to assist with our law enforcement activities. To date, the program has proved to be extremely successful, and I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how it’s reshaped the way we serve and protect. Our communities rely on real-time information and swift action, and drones have helped us deliver on those expectations.

The department has four drones that are piloted by five officers. They are used to locate missing persons, provide aerial surveillance during emergencies, and provide perspectives that we can’t get from the ground. In addition to the 50-plus drone deployments we’ve had related to law enforcement and public safety needs since our implementation, in early summer 2024 we captured footage of the record-setting Minnesota River flooding, helping us monitor its peak and provide our residents with aerial awareness. The drones have become our eyes in the sky, offering a new value on service and safety.

Drones have significantly enhanced our officers’ safety by reducing the need for dangerous interventions with armed people by providing us time and distance to more effectively mitigate those risky encounters. They also save us resources while still providing top-tier service to our community. Technology, when used with purpose and integrity, can make a lasting impact in the lives of the people we’re sworn to protect.

Like any new tool, there are challenges. Privacy concerns from residents are completely understandable, and from day one, we’ve made transparency and responsible usage a priority with clearly articulated policies and procedures. Operating drones lawfully under Minnesota law and Federal Aviation Administration regulations requires rigorous preparation, and our priority will always be remaining responsible users of airspace.

I’ve also been inspired by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received from the community. People see the benefits in the form of faster resource deployment or increased safety, and they appreciate the steps we’ve taken to improve our delivery of critical public safety services.

For city leaders thinking about implementing drone technology, it’s critical to start with a clear vision. Make transparency with your community a priority, and ensure your team is well trained and ready to operate responsibly while adhering to all regulations. Drones are the future of public safety, and being part of that future is something we should all embrace.

SAM TEMPLE
NORTHFIELD PUBLIC BROADCASTING (NPB) STATION MANAGER
NORTHFIELD (POPULATION 21,020)

The City of Northfield first used drones for aerial footage in 2022. We have since utilized aerial footage for videos inviting businesses to Northfield, public service announcements communicating infrastructure updates, and in the annual State of the City address.

It’s one thing to communicate information, but showing familiar places from an unexpected angle prompts people to consider their community from a fresh perspective. In government communications, that’s no small thing; it can create a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

I was 14 when I worked on my first local PEG (public, education, government) television station production, a documentary about my hometown’s founder. What we discovered then, and what I continue to apply in my work today as a public access station manager for the City of Northfield, is that aerial videography and thoughtful editing can impact viewers in a uniquely profound way.

At the municipal level, one of our key challenges is helping residents remember that they’re part of a broader community. Government communicators often aim to reinforce that we’re connected — that no one exists in isolation. Aerial footage of a city, where viewers can spot landmarks or even their own homes, serves as a powerful reminder of those connections. It’s a visual tool that can inspire pride, curiosity, and a sense of shared responsibility.

For government communicators, aerial perspectives are more than just flashy visuals; they’re a storytelling device that connects people to place and to one another. The work that I started when I was 14 is what I continue to do today — telling community stories for local public television. Aerial footage alone doesn’t make a message effective or a video professional. Like anything, it is a tool. With the right team and the right message, this tool can help foster a community-wide understanding that we’re all part of something larger — an idea that resonates long after the video ends.