August 11, 2026

City of Mobile Department of Public Safety Launches Tethered Drone Program

By Dale Hines
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News

August 11, 2026

Mobile, Ala. — The City of Mobile Department of Public Safety has officially launched a new aerial situational awareness program that began in May 2026. In pursuit of Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis’ mission to bolster public safety, Executive Director of Public Safety Curtis Graves tasked the Gulf Coast Technology Center with conducting research, testing and evaluation of drone technology that could offer livestream safety overwatch of city parks and special events.

“Drones have proven to be useful tools for agencies around the country, especially where big crowds are present,” Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said. “With a number of events throughout our city that draw large crowds, it is imperative that we protect citizens and visitors any way we can. This is a cost-effective way to enhance what we’re already doing to help keep the public safe.

By deploying this tethered Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), the Department of Public Safety aims to improve emergency responder times, increase incident command visibility, and enhance overall safety for both first responders and the community.

“This new technology isn’t meant to invade anyone’s privacy. Instead, it gives our first responders an additional tool to assess large events in real-time and the ability to monitor parks and other areas while aggressively pursuing our public safety efforts,” said Director Graves.

The Fotokite system operates by connecting the drone to a ground station via a durable, lightweight tether. As the Department of Public Safety continues to update the citywide surveillance camera program at city parks, the tethered UAS system will only enhance overall coverage going forward.

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