Surveillance Impact Report
Community Safety Camera Systems – Camera Registry and
Department Remote Access to Public/Privately Owned Surveillance Camera Systems
A. Description
A fixed camera device, owned and/or controlled by the City of Oakland or a private/public entity, with the capability of live streaming and/or recording videographic data, where the owner/controller of the device and its associated data has explicitly provided authorization to the Oakland Police Department to access historical and/or live videographic data in the furtherance of a criminal investigation.
B. Purpose
OPD accessed CS Camera Systems and associated VMS and Operating Systems are intended to deter criminal activity within specific public areas and enhance the Department’s ability to address disruptive criminal activity within the community.
These disruptive crimes include theft, vehicle theft, human trafficking, reckless driving, sideshow/takeovers, felony evasion, burglaries, robberies, shootings, and homicides. Many criminal investigations hinge upon the availability and quality of surveillance video as evidence that is later used in the prosecution of criminal cases.
While physical surveillance may also accomplish these goals, it is limited due to the financial cost, the availability of resources, and the physical demands upon members of the Department. CS Camera Systems have the capability of enhancing the Department’s ability to address the types of criminal activity that are disruptive within the community while also acting as a resource multiplier within the Department. It is the expressed intent of the Department to use this technology to facilitate informed enforcement on those involved in specific disruptive criminal activities and to mitigate collateral impact upon the community.
The Department also recognizes that CS Camera Systems have the capability of assisting with community safety efforts beyond the role of the law enforcement, and intends to utilize CS Camera Systems to assist the Oakland Fire Department and other partnering emergency services in their Public Safety functions.
C. Location
Community Safety Camera Systems will be utilized in areas throughout the City, specifically in business corridors, main thoroughfares, or in areas where violent and/or disruptive criminal activity is occurring (based on crime data analysis).
While specific locations have not yet been identified, the below map shows a general coverage area of proposed initial public/private collaboration areas. This Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
collaboration program has also been expanded to the Hegenberger/98th Ave business corridor. Department owned/managed devices are intended to be used to supplement existing camera systems, or to be placed in areas where there are not yet public/private collaboration projects. It is the long-term goal of the Department to expand this type of collaboration to additional business corridors impacted by disruptive criminal activity, including but not limited to, The Fruitvale, Laurel, Lakeshore, International, Bancroft, Piedmont Ave, and College Ave business areas.
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
Included below is a visual representation (hotspot/heatmap) of crime data related to robbery incidents within the same general geographical area (Oakland PD Districts 1 where existing private camera systems exist. The heatmap shows concentrations of robbery events using a spectrum of red color coding, with the dark red representing high concentrations robbery events. The areas with heavy concentrations of robberies shows substantial overlap with the collaborative private camera coverage areas.
Similar analysis has been conducted city-wide, but also included burglaries, robberies, and shooting incidents. This analysis will be used to inform future efforts towards expansion of the CS Camera System program.
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
D. Impact
Community Safety Camera Systems are intended to deter specific criminal activity and to facilitate focused enforcement when necessary. Community Safety Camera Systems will not be utilized with the intent to surveil a person or group based on race, gender, religion, political affiliation, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or other classification protected by law. Department managed/owned CS Camera Systems will be deployed in areas related to specific criminal activities, informed by crime data, analysis, and investigative knowledge.
E. Mitigations
The CS Camera System policy prohibits the use of CS Camera Systems for, invasion of privacy, harassment or intimidation, based on protected characteristics, in conjunction with facial recognition, personal use, to violate first amendment rights, or to capture audio data (DGO I-32.1 – Section E-1). Annual audits related to the use of the technology will be conducted. It is the Department’s explicit intention to use this technology in a manner that mitigates collateral impacts upon the community with a focused approach related to subjects involved in specific criminal activity.
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
CS Camera Systems are intended to initially be used in commercial areas and main thoroughfares throughout the city where existing city and commercial infrastructure exist. The Department will deploy Department owned/managed devices based on crime data, with a focus on violent crime.
F. Data Types and Sources
The CS Camera System captures visual data which is retained along with associated metadata.
G. Data Security
All data shall be safeguarded and protected by both procedural and technological means. OPD shall observe the following safeguards regarding access to and use of stored data:
➢ All CS Camera System server data shall be accessible only through a login/password-protected system capable of documenting all access of information by username or other data elements used such as date and time of access.
➢ All data shall be accessed via a Department approved securely connected device.
H. Fiscal Cost
The estimated starting cost for this project is approximately $200,000-300,000 depending on the number of devices purchased by the Department. The devices are intended to integrate into the existing Flock Operating System at a cost of approximately $80,000 per year (requiring an upgrade to Flock OS Elite). The Department will seek funding through grants, donated/provided equipment, or alternative funding (as an alternative to general funds, or to reimburse general funds) to facilitate the initial purchase/acquisition of this technology and the requisite video management systems. Retained data will be stored on an existing platform at no additional cost.
I. Third Party Dependence
The CS Camera Systems will initially rely on vendor or partnering agency assistance related to mobilizing the devices and maintaining them. Retained data will be stored through the existing Evidence.com (Axon), consistent with other stored evidence- related data.
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
J. Alternatives
Alternatives to the use of this technology would be the use of physical manned surveillance, or manual “canvassing” for video that captures criminal activity, which is costly both in terms of fiscal cost, time, and being physically taxing (and at points potentially dangerous) for Department members. There is also the opportunity to mitigate the need to begin, or continue, a pursuit in areas where a vehicle involved in criminal activity can be observed remotely. In certain circumstances, the location can be determined utilizing this technology, to allow the Department to conduct enforcement in an area that may have less of an impact on uninvolved members of the community.
The CS Camera Systems are meant to act as a force multiplier by using technology to augment or replace physical surveillance by Department members.
K. Track Record
Camera systems similar to CS Camera Systems have been utilized throughout the United States, including in Charlotte (North Carolina), Atlanta (Georgia), and San Francisco. The devices are critical in the prosecution of violent crimes, as they often capture important information of evidentiary value, including capturing, burglaries, robberies, and shootings on video and documenting visual evidence that led to the identification and prosecution of those involved. It should be noted that similar information is already captured by privately owned surveillance devices and VMS systems, which are accessed later by the Department. The current process is time consuming and delays action related to investigations. Evidence is frequently lost or not recovered due to time constraints or being overwritten.
The Oakland Police Department intends to use this technology with a narrow, focused approach to meet the investigatory needs of the Department, while also respecting and safeguarding the privacy rights of the community.
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
ATTACHMENT – A
The below our visual representations of Crime Data related to robberies throughout the six (6) Oakland PD Districts in the City of Oakland from January 2024 to April 2025.
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
Below is visual representation of where CS cameras may be utilized based on crime data analysis (red shaded areas).
Surveillance Impact Report – Community Safety Camera Systems
The following link provides an interactive map showing possible areas where Community Safety Camera Systems may be employed. A QR code is also included for ease of access.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5cb3b2aa38794c458b1e20a83fed494e