Agenda Item No: P.7
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: June 17, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution 2025 -115 PD Authorizing Flock Safety for Analysis and Real Time Intelligence Center
Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Approve a Five -Year Contract with Flock Safety for the Police Department’s Analysis and Real Time Intelligence Center
Funding Source: $1,750,000; General Fund, IT ISF Camera Replacement, PD Traffic Tow Fund and PD Asset Forfeiture Fund
Contact: Nick McDowell, (707) 428-7645 and Nicholas Giaccio, (707) 428-7760
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt resolution.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The Police Department has completed the physical build -out of the Analysis and Real Time Intelligence Center (ARTIC). The final step is to complement our robust city camera system, Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system, and numerous databases by instituting a “Drone as First Responder” (DFR) program and consolidating our databases in Flock OS to utilize all information in real time.
DISCUSSION
Supplementing the ARTIC in Fairfield, with an annual operational cost of $350,000, represents an investment in modernizing public safety and enhancing community well-being. This expenditure is justified by the ARTIC's capacity to transform policing , emphasizing a proactive, data -driven approach. By integrating live feeds from various sources such as city and private cameras, license plate readers, and crucially, drone systems, the ARTIC provides the Department with immediate, comprehensive situational awareness. This real -time intelligence allows for faster identification of criminal activity, more eff icient deployment of resources, and the ability to intervene before situations escalate, ultimately leading to reduced crime rates, improved investigative outcomes, and a safer environment for Fairfield's residents.
Specific additions to the ARTIC include:
Flock OS – This software integrates numerous data streams , including Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), cameras, and maps, putting all this information in front of the user on one “pane of glass.” Video can be live streamed to police and fire personnel in the field for enhanced situational awareness. Add -ons Flock Nova and Flock Freeform put intelligence-gathering tools at the ready for ARTIC staff. Flock Live 911 – This software allows ARTIC staff to listen to 911 calls in real time to point cameras, launch drones, and research call information before the call is even dispatched. Aerodome Remote Piloting Software and Docked Drones – Three strategically located drones maximize city coverage to put a responding drone within minutes of the majority of calls for service. These drones are remotely piloted from the ARTIC. FLOCK ALPR’s – Two additional Flock LPR cameras are included in the contract at no additional cost.
Flock Aerodome DFR Radar – Flock Safety will equip Fairfield with radar units , allowing the Department’s drones to operate at 400’ above ground level. This is a free trial of the equipment for one year to determine the effectiveness of flying at a 400’ ceiling compared to the standard 200’ without radar capabilities.
A significant portion of this justification lies in the strategic deployment of drones as first responders. When an emergency call comes in, drones equipped with high -resolution cameras can be dispatched immediately, often arriving on the scene minutes before ground units. This aerial perspective offers invaluable information, providing officers with a clear understanding of the situation, potential threats, and escape routes, all while maintaining a safe distance. This not only dramatically improves officer safety by minimizing their e xposure to unknown dangers but also enables more precise and effective tactical responses. The ability of drones to rapidly assess large areas, locate suspects, or identify victims in complex scenarios translates directly into quicker resolutions and poten tially saving lives and property, making the cost a highly effective allocation of public funds for advanced emergency response. The Department is currently coordinating with community partners and an allied law enforcement agency to expand the DFR capabilities of the region by adding two to three additional docked drones in Suisun and Fairfield.
Additional justification for the Flock Safety annual cost lies in its capacity for drone-based vehicle pursuit mitigation, a critical safety concern for both law enforcement and the public. With real - time drone surveillance, staff in the ARTIC can monitor pursuits from a safe distance, providing critical information to ground units without requiring them to engage in high-speed chases. This allows for more strategi c intervention, including the ability to track suspect vehicles covertly, deploy spike strips more effectively, or even guide units to locations where the pursuit can be terminated safely. By reducing the need for high-speed pursuits, the ARTIC directly minimizes the risk of accidents, a significant reduction in potential liability for the city.
Furthermore, drones offer unparalleled support to the Fairfield Fire Department. In fire emergencies, they can quickly survey large areas, pinpoint hot spots, asse ss structural integrity, and locate individuals in smoke -filled or inaccessible environments, significantly improving response effectiveness and potentially saving lives and property by guiding firefighters to critical areas. Beyond immediate emergency res ponse, the ARTIC's drone capabilities extend vital support to Fairfield's Public Works department, further validating the annual investment. Drones can conduct rapid and comprehensive inspections of critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water sy stems, and public utilities, identifying maintenance needs or damage much faster and safer than traditional methods. After severe weather events or other incidents, drones can quickly assess widespread damage, helping Public Works prioritize repairs and al locate resources effectively.
The only other competing vendor providing similar software and DFR equipment is Axon Enterprise, Inc. Their quote was considerably higher, and their customer service capabilities have diminished considerably in recent years. Therefore, they were not seen as a viable partner for this project.
Ultimately, the $350,000 annual cost for Fairfield's ARTIC software, bolstered by drone technology, is a modest sum when weighed against the profound benefits it delivers. Beyond immediate incident response, the ARTIC fosters a culture of intelligence-led policing, allowing the Fairfield Police Department to analyze crime patterns, allocate patrols more effectively, and build stronger cases. The enhanced efficiency and effectiveness derived from real-time data and aerial insights can contribute to a measurable reduction in crime, a decrease in emergency response times, and an increase in public confidence in law enforcement. This investment is not merely an expense but a strategic move towards a more secure, resilient, and technologically advanced city, ensuring that Fairfield remains a safe place to live, work, and raise families.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total cost of the five-year contract with Flock Safety is $1,750,000. Funding has been secured for the first two years of the contract through salary savings, rebates on ISF funding via the Information Technology Department’s Camera Replacement Fund, the Police Traffic Tow Fund, and the Police Asset Forfeiture Fund. Years three through five will require reallocation of funds from different city sources and potential grant funds. Without the alternative funding sources, the contract would have to be terminated. The Department has secured a contract with Flock Safety, allowing termination of the contract should we not secure the necessary funding.
Year one (1): $350,000 ($276,000, IT ISF Camera Replacement Fund; $74,000, General Fund.
Year two (2): $350,000 ($175,000, General Fund, $175,000, Police Asset Forfeiture Fund and Police Traffic Tow Fund.
Years Three (3) – Five (5): TBD. Source funding or cancel contract.
The Police Department is confident that the value of the ARTIC program will become apparent and deserving of future funding. Contributing to this confidence is the fact that Real-Time Crime Centers with DFR components are highly popular and effective with the agencies that have them.
They are considered the future of law enforcement by many.
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The City Council may choose not to adopt the resolution . However, the full capabilities of the Analysis and Real Time Intelligence Center will not be achieved.
COORDINATED WITH
City Attorney’s Office and Information Technology Department
STAFF CONTACT
Matt Thomas, Police Captain
(707) 399-5634
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Proposed Resolution
Attachment 3: Software as a Service Agreement for Flock Safety Platform