Drone first response, social worker, and custody officer are part of Lynnwood’s public safety grant

The city’s accepting of a $2.5 million public safety grant had originally been attached as a consent agenda item, but quickly became a point of contention during Lynnwood City Council’s Monday meeting. Concerns over a new drone program, funding for the new social worker and custody officer positions, and any future ongoing cost to the city’s general fund were hot topics. This was immediately after council president Nick Coelho read the city’s proclamation for Disability Awareness Day.

Council member Isabel Mata pulled the acceptance of the $2.5 million HB 2015 Public Safety Grant form from the consent agenda over concerns she had regarding the drone first response line item, along with the long-term funding for two positions that will assist prisoners through the reentry program after their sentence is up. There was no information presented to council about accountability for the drone program or the guarantees of data privacy. In the aftermath of the Flock cameras sharing data with ICE, without the council’s permission, she wanted more guarantees that the city’s residents would be better protected from such a privacy breach.

Editors note: Consent agenda items are reserved for non-controversial items that the council has already received briefings on or are routine city business (like payroll) that need their approval. It is common practice for accepting grant applications to fall under consent agenda items.

Lynnwood Police Department deputy chiefs Chuck Steichen and Curt Zatylny were in the Council Chamber for the meeting. According to the deputy chiefs, the new drone program should be funded for three years and the department’s plan is to treat that time frame as a pilot program. They were unable to address concerns about privacy and data protections for the city’s residents.

Instead they highlighted the drone’s capability to bring out supplies that the first responders may not have had on the scene due to lack of information provided during the call, or that could be self administered if possible; the list included narcan, defibrillators, and other payloads. Council member David Parshall stated that his understanding was these drones can be used to handle communications to aide in deescalation that reduce the risks of a direct confrontation between police officers and suspects.

One technology that’s part of the grant that was brought up that seemed to generate the most support from the council was the in prison cell radar. This radar allows for consistent monitoring of the respiration rate and pulse of the prisoners which provides a quick alert to staff if there is a potential medical emergency unfolding. This was brought to LPD’s attention because the City of Kent was also applying for the same public safety grant to help purchase these radars.

Lynnwood currently has two drones, and employees two drones pilots. These drones are deployed to assist with tracking suspects on foot as well as to help monitor dynamic scenes that exceed the police presence already on site.

Council vice president Derica Escamilla asked if the grant could be used to fund existing programs and then the city could redirect budgeted funds to the general fund in order to reduce the budget deficit. That is not an option, unfortunately, as these grants are required to purchase new technologies or fund new positions.

As for the long-term financing of the new positions associated with the reentry program, those are funded through June, 2028 as part of the grant and the police department claims they will be able to absorb cost of the last quarter through the budget their requesting in as part of the next budget cycle. Which means there would be no additional funding requested for those two positions at any point during the next biennium.

While the council at large had not received briefings on the specific line items requested as part of the grant, the finance and chief’s advisory committees had both discussed them. It was Coelho that had advised chief police Cole Langdon that accepting the grant could be an item on the consent agenda.

Escamilla and Mata’s concerns about the long-term financial planning related to the technologies and positions funded by this grant were assuaged when they were advised the council would be able to review and determine if these programs were worth funding in the future. Mata did take the opportunity to reiterate that she would like a plan from the police department about funding these programs and maintenance for the new technology after the grant funding had expired; she also wanted an assurance that the council would discuss data and privacy protections with regards to the new drones as the two police chiefs had been unable to address the concerns raised.

After nearly 50 minutes of conversation, the council unanimously voted to accept the grant.

More news from the Lynnwood City Counil’s July 13th, 2026 meeting

Disability Awareness Day Proclamation

Coelho took the opportunity to read aloud the city’s proclamation to acknowledge Disability Awareness Day and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Several people spoke in support of the proclamation, including two representatives from Community Transit. The Transit agency plays a key role in helping connect people with disabilities to their work, homes, leisure, and medical appointments so acknowledging this day is important to the agency.

Read the proclamation below.

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