The Sugar Land Police Department is expanding its use of advanced surveillance and response tools following City Council approval of two contracts totaling more than $2.8 million.
On Jan. 6, the City Council authorized a $594,000 contract with Axon Enterprises Inc. for a 29-month subscription to real-time crime center software and the purchase of two autonomous drones. The system integrates drone footage, officer body cameras and other live video feeds into a unified platform known as FUSUS, enabling improved situational awareness and faster response times. Funding for this project is drawn from Law Enforcement State Seizure Funds, with $198,000 allocated in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
According to the council materials, the Skydio “Drone as a First Responder” technology will allow autonomous drone deployments across the city. The goal is to provide officers with aerial visuals before arriving on scene, enhancing safety and resource coordination.
The FUSUS platform can also integrate video from existing city surveillance systems, including those in public parks and streets, as well as from private sources like schools, malls and residential doorbell cameras, with participant consent.
In a separate action, the City Council approved an amendment to its contract with Flock Group Inc., expanding the city’s license plate recognition (LPR) camera network. The amendment consolidates several leases and adds two additional LPR cameras, increasing the total contract amount by $23,000 to $2.3 million over five years.
The LPR system, which began deployment in 2015 and has grown in phases, is used as both a deterrent and investigative tool. The most recent additions build upon a network of more than 170 Flock cameras installed across the city, many of which were funded through federal relief programs and local partnerships. The newly approved amendment ensures that all leased cameras are aligned under a single expiration date and contract structure.
These technology upgrades are part of a broader strategy by Sugar Land to modernize its law enforcement capabilities through targeted investments in automation and real-time data access. Both projects were recommended by police department leadership and approved unanimously by the City Council as part of the meeting's consent agenda.
Sugar Land Approves $2.8 Million in Public Safety Tech Upgrades
What to Know:
- Sugar Land City Council approved $2.8 million for autonomous drones, real-time crime center software and expanded license plate recognition cameras.
- Axon Enterprises will provide two drones and FUSUS software subscription under a $594,000 contract.
- Flock Group’s LPR camera contract was amended to add two cameras and consolidate leases, raising the total contract value to $2.3 million.
