Jackson Police Seek $125 Million Federal Grant for AI Surveillance and Drone Fleet, Amid Camera System Failures

Jackson, Mississippi's police department has emerged as a finalist for a $125 million federal grant under the Trump administration's Model Cities Initiative, proposing to deploy AI-enabled surveillance, a six-drone thermal-imaging fleet, and expanded real-time crime monitoring despite critical infrastructure failures in its existing camera network. The three-year grant would fund a sweeping technological overhaul including a specialized unit focused on repeat shooters, forensic laboratory upgrades, and AI-powered predictive policing capabilities, the Jackson Police Department announced in October 2026.