The Leawood Police Department plans to swap out a federal grant it was originally awarded to buy a license plate reader and use it instead for a drone.

The move, approved by the city council at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 2, was prompted by growing public opposition to automated license plate readers, Police Chief Brad Robbins told councilmembers.

The switch still needs permission from the U.S. Department of Justice, he said. But even if that permission isn’t given, Robbins said the department would not seek to purchase a license plate reader.

Leawood PD awarded $43K federal grant

Leawood Police applied for and received $43,000 federal grant earlier this year to buy a portable, solar-powered license plate reader system that could be moved around the city.

The portability would let police use it in areas with increased auto thefts, shoplifting and other crimes, Robbins said.

During a discussion in August of a citywide sales tax initiative, police department officials expressed an urgent need to replace various technologies, including drones and body cameras that are facing expiring contracts or aging out.

The police department’s aging Chinese-made drones would need to be replaced with American-made ones, per a 2025 Kansas statute. Department staff outlined contract offers from Axon Enterprise for the replacements.

Resident concerns prompted switch to drone

Meanwhile, a national debate has also been growing over the use of license plate readers, particularly the brand Flock.

In Johnson County,  Gardner Police recently discontinued its use of Flock cameras, and Overland Park Police also moved to tighten its own internal rules for sharing data from license plate readers.

None of the 13 license plate readers that Leawood PD currently employs are from Flock, nor was the one the department intended to buy. Nevertheless, police department officials began to hear from residents opposed to plate readers.

The department learned in September that its federal grant request was successful. However, because of the outcry, Robbins said they decided to pivot away from purchasing a license plate reader and seek a drone instead.

The domestically produced drone would be used to view public safety scenes and search for lost or fleeing subjects.

Before officials can apply for permission to switch equipment, the city had to accept the grant. After brief questions last Monday, councilmembers unanimously gave that permission.

If the justice department denies the switch, Robbins said the department would decline the grant. The department won’t move forward with any plan to get license plate readers until staff and councilmembers have had more time to discuss it.

Councilmembers voting yes were Matt Peppes, Sherrie Gayed, Rachel Rubin, Steve Kaster, Julie Cain, Lisa Harrison, Mary Larson and Alan Sunkel. Mayor Marc Elkins did not vote.