July 8, 2026 Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee

The July 8, 2026 meeting of the Minneapolis Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee included a consent agenda approving a gift acceptance for police inspector Molly Fisher to attend a leadership academy and setting a public hearing for the mayor's nomination of Dr. Reginald Freeman as fire chief. The committee held a public hearing to consider the mayor's nomination of Kayla McConnan Dyer as director of the Civil Rights Department, with multiple speakers supporting her appointment and highlighting her leadership in eliminating case backlogs and expanding civil rights protections. The committee then conducted a lengthy public hearing on a proposed 75-day no-cost pilot program contracting with Skydio Inc. for drones as first responders in the 4th Precinct. The program aims to deploy drones to 911 calls to provide real-time video to first responders, potentially improving response times and resource allocation. The hearing featured extensive public testimony, largely opposing the contract due to concerns about surveillance, privacy, civil liberties, and Skydio's ties to military and law enforcement agencies, including allegations of complicity in human rights abuses abroad. Committee members discussed regulatory frameworks, data management, and pilot program metrics. The committee voted to move the drone contract forward without recommendation to the full city council for a final vote. The meeting concluded with plans to continue other agenda items to the next meeting.