The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Sept. 1 approved a memorandum of understanding for a “drone as first responder” pilot at Potomac Mills, allowing police to launch an aircraft from the mall when a call is dispatched instead of driving a drone to the scene.
The vote on item 6-R passed with Occoquan Supervisor Kenny Boddye and Gainesville Supervisor George Stewart abstaining. Coles Supervisor Yesli Vega, Neabsco Supervisor Victor Angry, Potomac Supervisor Andrea Bailey and Woodbridge Supervisor Jeannie LaCroix supported the drone item. A companion agreement, item 6-O, for live sharing of some Potomac Mills security-camera images, passed after the same round of questions.
Police Chief Pete Newsham told the board the department has used drones since 2021 but typically transports them by vehicle and launches after arriving. The pilot would launch from the mall into about a two-mile radius. Newsham described the mall area as a crime hotspot and said the change would get aerial information to officers and firefighters faster.
Virginia law, he said, limits the flights to emergency-type situations: emergencies, missing persons and traffic crashes. The drones would not be used for routine patrol or for surveillance without an active call. The camera is not positioned to record while the aircraft is in transit. Newsham said there is no facial recognition, no link to Flock or other tracking systems, and that access is limited to the Police Department.
On retention, Newsham first estimated about 30 days, then corrected himself on the dais. Footage that captures a crime would be held through case disposition. Non-criminal footage would be deleted after about 30 days.
His safety case centered on driving to calls. Driving code is among the most dangerous tasks officers and firefighters perform, he said, and spoof mass-shooting calls send units racing across the county. A drone that finds a quiet scene would let those units slow down. Asked whether the drone memorandum could wait, Newsham said he did not want the item delayed.
The camera memorandum is narrower. Police would receive live images only during an active-violence-type event. Historical mall video would still require a court process. Newsham said the department does not use facial recognition on the mall feed.
Chair-at-Large Deshundra Jefferson said license-plate readers and related camera issues should go to a work session with County Executive Christopher Shorter and Newsham. She noted that Flock is a brand of license-plate reader, not every camera. Boddye said he wanted a work session before the drone pilot.
After the votes, Melody Miller of Neabsco said she supported the safety goal but called “exigent circumstances” language too broad. She asked for an audit, mall signage on retention and a complaint process.
Prince William County Police does not operate a police helicopter. Neighboring Fairfax County Police does. The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division flies under the call sign Fairfax 1. Fairfax police say the unit maintains 24/7 single-aircraft response with a crew of one pilot and two paramedic-qualified police officers and two Bell 429 helicopters. O
When Prince William needs an aircraft for a suspect search or rescue, it relies on mutual aid, including Fairfax 1, rather than a county helicopter of its own.
