Select Board approves police drone on tight 3-2 vote
Southborough approved a $105,000 police drone on a 3-2 Select Board vote. Chair Kathryn M. Cook introduced the motion but voted against it, siding with Vice Chair Andrew Pfaff's position that using departmental bottom-line spending for large capital purchases set a problematic precedent. Members
Select Board · Meeting of June 29, 2026
Southborough approved a $105,000 police drone on a 3-2 Select Board vote. Chair Kathryn M. Cook introduced the motion but voted against it, siding with Vice Chair Andrew Pfaff's position that using departmental bottom-line spending for large capital purchases set a problematic precedent.
Members Sam Stivers, Tim Fling, and Andrew R. Dennington, II voted in favor. The purchase from Axon will be offset by a $20,000 Fay School donation, with a possible additional $30,000 from a state budget earmark expected within several months.
Police Chief Ryan Newell outlined public-safety benefits and the practical limitations of relying on other jurisdictions' drones during emergencies.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 272 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of June 29, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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