The Madison Police Department drone program in Madison, Alabama, is getting a major boost, thanks to a Norfolk Southern Safety First grant that supports both residents and rail operations.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Madison Police Department drone program backed by Norfolk Southern
Photo: Norfolk Southern

Through the company’s Safety First grant program, the Madison Police Department has received a $15,000 grant to modernize its drone equipment and expand officer training for real-world use. This funding will help the department grow its police drone fleet for community safety while also sharpening how quickly officers can respond to local safety needs. By investing in both hardware and skills, the department is better positioned to deploy police drones more effectively where they are most needed.

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How drones support community safety in Madison?

For Madison police, drones have become a versatile part of day-to-day operations. They can be called in for tactical deployments, assist in search and rescue missions, support crowd management, and give commanders an elevated view during traffic incident response. As the department expands its use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), it extends its operational reach and, at the same time, helps keep officers out of some of the most high-risk situations.

In practice, police drones for community safety complement traditional patrol work, adding another layer of visibility over the city and nearby rail corridors rather than replacing existing tools.

Partnership behind the Madison Police Department drone program

Captain Terrrell Cook of the Madison Police Department stresses how important the partnership with the Norfolk Southern Police Department is for local safety.

He notes that this cooperation helps ensure railway cargo is transported through Madison as safely as possible while the community is protected as well. According to Cook, the support from Norfolk Southern will allow the department to significantly boost its UAS capabilities, helping keep citizens safe and safeguarding the railway cargo that passes through the city.

The grant, in other words, reinforces both public safety in Madison and the security of freight moving along Norfolk Southern rail lines.

NS Special Agent and Community Ambassador Matthew Wade adds that the Norfolk Southern Safety First grant will further strengthen the Madison Police Department’s existing commitment to public safety by supporting its drone program.

In his view, the added resources will help protect the people of Madison and the rail operations that run through the community, underlining how local law enforcement and the railroad can work together around shared safety goals.

Safety First grants across Norfolk Southern’s 22-state network

The Safety First grant program supports community safety efforts across Norfolk Southern’s 22-state network, including communities like Madison that host important rail operations. These Norfolk Southern grants for local safety programs go to organizations that provide direct safety services or run initiatives encouraging safe behavior, as Railway Supply also notes when describing the Safety First and Thriving Communities grant programs.

In this case, the Madison Police drone program is one of the local efforts gaining new capacity from the funding. Overall, these grants help police departments and other organizations protect communities and the rail infrastructure they rely on, while readers can find more detail on Norfolk Southern grant opportunities through the company’s grant program resources.

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