
Watertown council approves police application for technology grant
The Watertown City Council approved the Police Department’s application for a state grant that could fund drones and a roadway data platform.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
The Watertown City Council approved the Police Department’s application for a state technology grant that could provide up to $250,000 for equipment, including drones and a roadway intelligence platform.
The platform would use anonymous smartphone data to provide information about traffic speed, congestion and volume. Police said it would not capture license plates, identify individual drivers or use stationary cameras. The department also plans to review vendors and privacy concerns before selecting technology. Drones could be used to assess scenes, cover difficult terrain and help locate missing people or people hiding from police.
This story was written from a community submission and reviewed by a ClickNNY editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.

ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Your first North Country winter: a survival guide for Fort Drum soldiers from the South
Never driven on snow, owned a snow blower or felt a February morning at Fort Drum? Here's what to wear, what to keep in your car and how to get through your first lake-effect winter.

ClickNNY Guide · Winter
Are we ready for another North Country winter?
From heating bills and snow tires to lake-effect storms and the first big snowfall, Northern New York is getting ready for another winter. But how prepared are we really?

ClickNNY Guide
Driving on wet leaves in the North Country: what to know this fall
Wet leaves, farm equipment, school buses, low sunlight, frost and deer can create seasonal driving hazards in Northern New York, according to safety guidance from AAA Northeast, AARP, New York agencies and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.