Title
Staff Report for Public Safety Camera Planning and Policy Considerations
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff is currently replacing all security cameras in City Hall and the Police Department due to the age and poor quality of the equipment. As part of this project, staff is formulating plans to add (in two locations) public safety cameras, focused on discrete public places that include Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs). Staff recommendations meet the guidelines published by the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services office and research conducted by The Urban Institute Justice Policy Center.
Staff recommends the following actions:
1. Discussion of a proposed policy related to the City's use of public safety cameras. A draft policy will be brought back to the City Council for consideration and approval.
2. Authorization to bring a project to the City Council to consider replacement of the public safety cameras at City Hall and the Police Department. The project would include public safety cameras with license plate readers at two public locations, expanding the City's existing ALPR program.
DISCUSSION
The Police Department presented its annual report to the City Council at the end of 2012. During that presentation, staff reported that it would review the use of public safety cameras to enhance the current law enforcement and crime deterrent technology in use by the City. Staff work has progressed such that staff believes that the City Council should consider a public safety camera policy prior to the enhanced use of public safety cameras. The inclusion of automated license plate readers as part of this project is covered by an existing policy. The Police Department currently has one automated license plate reader in use in a patrol vehicle and two parking automated license plate readers in the parking aide vehicles.
The Police Department currently has limited use of video monito...
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