Renton is sorting out the logistics of an increase in drone force for the city’s police department.

The city is leasing approximately 500 square feet of roof space at 17110 116th Ave. SE, a building currently being used by Water Babies USA, for the storage, limited testing and maintenance and other related equipment. The leasing with Cascade Plaza LLC began on Nov. 1, 2025. and is for free, but the city will reimburse the company for electricity they use.

Renton Police Department spokesperson Meeghan Black said the lease agreement is part of the Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program.

“We will have sites with nine drones stationed around the city to help us respond to calls. We will be getting new drones for the DFR program, so they have not been stored anywhere,” Black said. “We analyzed calls for service by location, time of day, and frequency, and chose DFR base sites that would provide the most comprehensive coverage in the city; 116th Ave. was one of those sites.”

The Drone as First Responder Program will provide real-time aerial intelligence to responding officers, enabling faster and safer emergency responses.

“Police drones provide real-time aerial views that help officers respond faster, make safer decisions, and manage emergencies more effectively,” Black said. “They support search and rescue operations, respond to natural disasters, improve situational awareness, reduce risks to officers, and enhance overall public safety.”

The program is a part of a new $1,567,151.59 contract with Axon Enterprise to enhance the department’s existing products by modernising their public safety systems.

To combat nefarious drones, the Dedrone Rapid Response Trailer will provide the police with the technology to detect and track unauthorized drones to protect people from malfunctioning drones at large gatherings, such as the 2026 World Cup events. The technology would allow the police to view the make and model of the drone and receive the GPS coordinates of the pilot to contact them for education or enforcement purposes.

Other new programs included in the contract are new software to body-worn cameras to enable real-time translation and transcribing capabilities to all officers and real-time crime center, called Fusus, that integrates live video, drone footage, and Axon feeds for real-time decision making.

“By integrating software, hardware, and AI solutions, this plan makes our department more efficient and effective in addressing public safety concerns in our community,” Black said.

Axon will also be providing the Renton police with a new self-defense technology, the Taser 10, which is said to have a greater accuracy, range and effectiveness to reduce injury. Replacing the department’s current Taser 7, the tool will be used to de-escalate dangerous situations without the use of lethal force.

“This expanded technology package strengthens our ability to prevent, respond to, and investigate crime,” Black said. “It positions Renton PD as a leader in public safety innovation and supports our commitment to transparency, best practices, and community trust.”