Emerald Isle held its final public forum Oct. 20 on a proposal to add a police drone and automated license plate reader cameras. A donation would fund the equipment, according to WITN.
What the department says the tools would do
Police said the drone could assist with search-and-rescue operations, large-event monitoring, and critical incidents. The proposed plate readers would be placed near the base of the Emerald Isle bridge and used to help investigate stolen vehicles, felony warrants, missing or endangered people, and other criminal cases.
Police said the cameras would not be used for traffic enforcement, are not Flock cameras, and would run in a closed system controlled by the department.
Privacy questions and next steps
WITN reported that some residents raised privacy concerns and questioned whether the technology is needed. The Board of Commissioners is expected to continue discussing the proposal at its Nov. 10 meeting.
WITN says the town has posted a presentation, draft policy, and question-and-answer document on its website. Residents can review those materials and follow the town’s meeting agenda for the next discussion.
Source: WITN, “Emerald Isle holds final forum on proposed police drone, license plate cameras,” by Jackson Jirik (Oct. 20, 2026). Town of Emerald Isle website.