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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Safety Committee - 03/14/2017 Public Safety Committee Minutes Page 1 of 3 Date: March 14, 2017 Time: 4:30 p.m. Place: Chambers East Attending: Dana Ralph, Les Thomas, and Jim Berrios, Chair Agenda: 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Changes to the Agenda There were no changes to the agenda. 4. Approval of Minutes dated February 14, 2016 L. Thomas moved to approve the Public Safety Committee minutes dated February 14, 2016. D. Ralph seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. 5. Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations - Information Only. Chief Thomas provided more information on the policy of the use of unmanned aerial systems (or drones.) The policy is intended to establish guidelines for the use of drones to enhance the Department’s ability to save lives, protect property and document crime and collision scenes. Any application of the drones will be in accordance with federal, state and city laws, to include constitutional privacy rights, search and seizure regulations and Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Highlights from the discussion include: Privacy Considerations:  Operating personnel will follow privacy rights and absent a warrant or exigent circumstances shall not intentionally record or transmit images in any location where a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy (inside house, fenced yard, enclosed area only visible from an elevated position.)  Operators and observers will take precautions to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images in violation of privacy rights. Authorized Uses:  Crime and Collision Scene Applications: the drone(s) will be preprogrammed with a flight plan specific to the scene that is being documented. Use in this capacity must have authorization by someone ranked sergeant or higher. Public Safety Committee Minutes Page 2 of 3  Officer Safety Tactical Applications: the drone(s) will be limited to incidents involving violent felony suspects or involving persons who are emotionally or mentally debilitated and pose a risk of serious bodily injury or death to themselves or others. These types of incidents will likely require remote manual operation of the drone(s). Use in this capacity must be authorized by someone the rank of commander or higher.  Mutual Aid – Valley SWAT: deployment of drone(s) use as mutual aid within city limits to support a Valley SWAT operation is authorized as long as its use meets the standards for “Authorized Uses.” Deployments require a search warrant and must be authorized by someone the rank of commander or higher.  Community Outreach Demonstrations: the use of a drone(s) as part of a community meeting or special event is authorized. The demonstration should be limited to showcasing the Department’s investigative capabilities and educating the public on the program. Use in this capacity must be authorized by someone the rank of commander or higher. Prohibited Uses:  Conduct random surveillance activities,  target a person based solely on individual characteristics, such as, but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation,  harass, intimidate or discriminate against any individual or group, and/or  conduct personal business of any type Chief Thomas noted the full version of the drone policy can be found on the Police Department’s webpage. 6. Chief’s Report – Information Only. Chief’s next briefing provided updates to two items, they are:  The shooting incident that involved a Sikh resident is an ongoing investigation by Police Department Detectives and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) who are assisting with the evidence. Friday, March 10, over 35 Police Officers and FBI canvassed the East Hill; every effort is being taken to resolve this case. It is recommended that if anyone has information on this incident they should call the city tip line at 253-856- 5808.  There have been conversations by residents to do more with speeding drivers through school zones. One recommendation is to add speed Public Safety Committee Minutes Page 3 of 3 signs reflecting how fast a driver is going in addition to letting drivers know they are approaching a school zone. Chief further explained that school zone funds used for traffic calming were used to purchase four solar powered radar signs, two portable speed signs and a radar trailer. This equipment will be used at Millennium Elementary and Springbrook Elementary, the next two schools flagged from the speed zone study. Chair Berrios asked to have research brought back to the April 11 meeting for this topic. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 4:56 p.m. by J. Berrios. J. Hays Jennifer Hays Public Safety Committee Secretary March 14, 2017