Public Safety Committee
February 25, 2025
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Floyd Mitchell
City Administrator Chief of Police
SUBJECT: LETS Throw Phone Policy and
Technology
DATE: January 24, 2025
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Approving The Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) Throw Phone Policy In Order For O PD To Acquire And Use The LETS Throw Phone Technology.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The LETS Android throw phone is an Android device that is part of a communications system for use in police hostage/crisis negotiations with subjects. The phone is enabled with two-way communication in an overt or covert manner.
This system is intended to provide a reliable means of communication between a hostage taker or barricaded subject and a member of the Department’s Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT). At times, there are no other means of phone communication with the subject, and this system allows for safe and reliable communication from a distance. The system allows the HNT to monitor and record conversations to facilitate the development of negotiation strategies and ensure that safety-related information is relayed. In addition to the overt communication capabilities, this technology also may also capture images and audio of identifiable individuals (additional suspects or victims/hostages), some of whom are unaware of the recording.
Approval of this policy will allow OPD to acquire and use LETS throw phone technology.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
OPD has developed Departmental General Order I-29: Throw Phone Use Policy and accompanying impact report and presented them to the Privacy Commission at the regularly scheduled Privacy Commission meetings on November 20, 2024, and October 3, 2024.
On November 20, 2024, the Privacy Commission voted unanimously to adopt Department General Order I-29 and recommended that the City Council also adopt the Departmental General Order I-29 and the accompanying impact report.
Jestin Johnson (Feb 10, 2025 18:22 PST)
Feb 10, 2025
To: Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: LETS Throw Phone Policy and Technology
Date: January 24, 2025 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
February 25, 2025
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The Oakland Police Department believes in protecting and serving its diverse community and city through fair, equitable, and constitutional policing. OPD believes in the usage of technology to aid in this mission and in the investment into progressive forms of surveillance technology, which both protects the rights of members of the community while also ensuring and enhancing the safety of community members, officers, and engaged persons. This includes a multipronged approach related to tactics, methodology, and technology that allows for de-escalation in often rapidly evolving and tumultuous environments and crisis events.
Although there are several more expensive alternative Throw Phones offered by various companies, there is no other technology able to directly replace and fulfill the need and benefits of a throw phone in a critical incident.
A less ideal alternative would be to use a regular department-issued cell phone as a makeshift solution which is what OPD has been using. LETS throw phones will be much more ideal.
Throw phone systems of this nature are standardized equipment for Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Teams according to the National Council of Negotiation Associations, Federal Bureau of Investigation Crisis Negotiation Unit, National Tactical Officers’ Association, and other industry standards. Approximately 15 years ago, the industry standard for these systems began to include video monitoring capabilities. Such monitoring capabilities were deemed important to be able to assess the demeanor of the subject and whether there were any life-safety factors present, such as the injured parties or threats of violence.
Track Record:
Most law enforcement agencies nationwide, particularly larger and well-resourced ones, have Throw Phones as part of their crisis negotiation and tactical response equipment. Smaller agencies or those with limited budgets might not have their own dedicated throw phones, but they often rely on nearby larger agencies or specialized units for assistance in critical situations that require such equipment. Throw Phones have been a proven critical tool in the negotiation arsenal to establish a secure and reliable line of communication. They indisputably enhance the safety of everyone involved and help facilitate a peaceful resolution to critical incidents. The LETS throw phone has the capability to “lock down” so the HNT member may control the Android from the Command Post or Negotiation Operations Center.
This policy advances the citywide priority of holistic community safety as this technology provides opportunities for less immediate police-public encounters where police use of force may occur, and where the lives of officers and the public may be in danger. All Oakland residents and visitors benefit from these efforts to support public safety and policing while mitigating encounters that endanger lives.
FISCAL IMPACT
The purpose of this report is to get approval of the use policy. The LETS system will be included in a future budget once funding is available. The LETS system costs $6045 and includes a FirstNet Throw phone Bundle with a 2-year subscription. The bundle includes the LETS license, access to the application from the application store, evidence manager, the LETS Respond To: Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: LETS Throw Phone Policy and Technology
Date: January 24, 2025 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
February 25, 2025
Service, the LETS Lock-down app, and the Transmitter app for FirstNet phones and 2 years of FirstNet cell service. Funding will be available through General-Purpose Fund (1010), Org. (101110), Account (53117), and Project (1000008).
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No public outreach was conducted other than the required posting on the City’s website.
COORDINATION
OPD coordinated with the Privacy Advisory Commission, Office of the City Attorney, and Budget Bureau.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: There are no economic opportunities associated with this report.
Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities associated with this report.
Race & Equity: All Oakland residents and visitors have a right and an expectation of privacy.
Additionally, OPD strives to ensure the public safety of all Oakland residents and visitors. OPD has developed its LETS Throw Phone Use Policy and Impact Report with the goal of utilizing the technology to provide a reliable means of communication between a hostage taker or barricaded subject and a member of HNT. At times, there are no other means of phone communication with the subject; this system allows for safe and reliable communication from a distance.
This technology provides opportunities for less immediate police-public encounters where police use of force may occur, and where the lives of officers and the public may be in danger. All Oakland residents and visitors benefit from these efforts to support public safety and policing while mitigating encounters that endanger lives.
To: Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: LETS Throw Phone Policy and Technology
Date: January 24, 2025 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
February 25, 2025
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Approving The Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) Throw Phone Use Policy And Impact Report In Order For OPD To Acquire And Use The LETS Throw Phone Technology.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Kristina Tikkanen, Sergeant, at 510-774- 5221.
Reviewed by:
Casey Johnson, Deputy Chief
OPD, Bureau of Field Operations 2
Dr. Tracey Jones
Police Services Manager
OPD, Research and Planning Unit
Prepared by:
Kristina Tikkanen, Sergeant
Patrol Division, Area 2
Attachments (2):
A: Throw Phone Technology Policy
B: Throw Phone Technology Impact report