# 10.20.2026 Police Commission


**Body:** City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
**Date:** October 21, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Public Safety, Information Technology, Grants & Funding, Physical Infrastructure


The October 20, 2026 Portsmouth Police Commission meeting included a Skydio presentation on a possible citywide drone-as-first-responder program. The vendor described a proposed four-dock deployment at the senior center and DPW, estimating drones could reach 79.9% of police and fire calls; no purchase or contract was approved. Commissioners discussed privacy, public flight logs, footage access, pursuit policies, weather limitations, training, and maintenance. The commission also noted that City Council had unanimously accepted the police-facility Plan C concept, which now moves to design; a future vote will consider bonding for the first phase of a six-phase plan, with no cost stated. The new dispatch center is operational, with minor punch-list work remaining.

The commission voted to forward three funding items to City Council: a $30,000 expenditure from the Geraldine Weber Fund to purchase rifle suppressors for newly acquired rifles; acceptance of a $1,000,000 FY2026 OJP grant for the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children program; and acceptance of a $1,031,000 FY2026 COPS Technology and Equipment Program grant for department IT, security, law-enforcement technology, and interoperable communications. The department reported its FY2027 budget was tracking 4% under the cap and said preparation of the FY2028 budget was underway.

**Source:** City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire