The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of 16 drones and associated equipment for Birmingham police at a price of $1.5 million.

The drones are to be used to assess emergency scenes, according to a statement from the city, which “can significantly enhance situational awareness, reduce response times and improve overall public safety.”

“In cities that have implemented similar programs, the equipment has allowed law enforcement to assess a scene in 80 seconds or less, which increases the probability of locating suspects or stolen property,” the statement says.

Efforts to reach police officials Tuesday were not successful.

“I want to commend this effort because it’s a strategy we’ve seen in other municipalities in Jefferson County and elsewhere,” Councilor Hunter Williams said. “We know it can drastically reduce response times in terms of having knowledge of a scene before an officer can arrive in person. I’m excited to see the progress we’ve made lately, and this is another investment in that.”

The contract with Atlanta Drone Group Inc. in Madison covers the equipment and staff support.