Public Safety Committee
February 24, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: James Beere
City Administrator Interim Chief of Police
SUBJECT: OPD Surveillance Technology 2024
Annual Reports
DATE: January 26, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Accepting The Annual Reports For The Following City Of Oakland Police Department Surveillance Technologies: (A) Automated License Plate Readers; (B) Crime Lab Biometrics DNA Analysis Technology; (C) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR); (D) Live Stream Transmitter; (E) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS Or Drone); (F) Forensic Logic Coplink/Crimetracer System; (G) Pen Register; And (2) Making A Determination Regarding Whether The City Should Continue To Use Each Of These Technologies.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This informational report includes Oakland Police Department (OPD) surveillance technology annual reports, which have been reviewed and approved by the Privacy Advisory Commission (PAC). These include Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), Biometric DNA, CrimeTracer, Live Stream, Pen Register, and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Drones. OPD also provided a memo to the PAC regarding technology no longer in use.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) 9.64.040: Surveillance Technology “Oversight following City Council approval” requires that for each approved surveillance technology item, city staff must present a written annual surveillance report for the PAC. After review by the Privacy Advisory Commission, city staff shall submit the annual surveillance report to the City Council. The PAC shall recommend to the City Council:
• The benefits to the community of the surveillance technology outweigh the costs, and civil liberties and civil rights are safeguarded.
• That use of the surveillance technology cease; or
• Propose modifications to the corresponding surveillance use policy that will resolve the concerns.
Based upon information provided in City staff's Annual Surveillance Report for each of the surveillance technology items referenced above, and after considering the recommendation of the PAC, the City Council will make a determination that the benefits to the community of the surveillance technology outweigh the costs (cost-benefit determination); that the proposal will safeguard civil liberties and civil rights, and that no alternative with a lesser economic cost or impact on civil rights or civil liberties Jestin Johnson (Feb 13, 2026 06:23:04 PST)
02/09/2026
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Surveillance Technology 2024 Annual Reports Date: January 26, 2026 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
February 24, 2026
would be as effective. Alternatively, the City Council may set aside its previous cost-benefit determination of approval for each of these forms of surveillance technology. Should the City Council set aside its previous determination, the City's use of the surveillance technology must cease.
Alternatively, the City Council may require modifications to the Surveillance Use Policy that will resolve any deficiencies.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
This report advances the Citywide priorities of holistic community safety and responsive, trustworthy government. Surveillance technology is used to help OPD respond in a more timely and efficient manner to public safety concerns. OPD strives to use technology responsibly by following departmental use policies and bringing reports to the PAC in a timely manner each year.
These include Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Drones (Attachment A), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) (Attachment B), Biometric DNA (Attachment C), Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) (Attachment D), Forensic Logic Coplink/CrimeTracer (Attachment E), Pen Register (Attachment F), and Live Stream (Attachment H).
FISCAL IMPACT
Please see the attached OPD Surveillance Tech Annual Reports for complete information.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was deemed necessary for the proposed policy action beyond the standard City Council agenda noticing procedures. However, each report details if community outreach was needed or if community feedback was received about the technology.
COORDINATION
These reports were scheduled to the Privacy Advisory Commission agenda. PAC reviewed, discussed, and approved these reports.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: Please see each attachment for complete information.
Environmental: Please see each attachment for complete information.
Race & Equity: OPD is committed to providing the best services to our community while being transparent and instilling procedural justice through daily police activity. This report is in compliance with these OPD commitments. OPD hopes that this report helps to strengthen our trust within the Oakland community.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Surveillance Technology 2024 Annual Reports Date: January 26, 2026 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
February 24, 2026
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Accepting The Annual Reports For The Following City Of Oakland Police Department Surveillance Technologies: (A) Automated License Plate Readers; (B) Crime Lab Biometrics DNA Analysis Technology; (C) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR); (D) Live Stream Transmitter; (E) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS Or Drone) ; (F) Forensic Logic Coplink/Crimetracer System; (G) Pen Register; And (2) Making A Determination Regarding Whether The City Should Continue To Use Each Of These Technologies.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Omar Daza-Quiroz, Acting Deputy Chief, odaza- [email protected].
Reviewed by,
Omar Daza-Quiroz, Acting Deputy Chief
OPD, Bureau of Investigations
Prepared by:
Dr. Tracey Jones, Police Services Manager
OPD, Research and Planning Unit
Attachments (8):
A. UAS/Drones
B. FLIR
C. Biometrics Crime Lab
D. ALPR
E. Forensic Logic Coplink/Crimetracer System
F. Pen Register
G. Livestream
H. OPD unused technology