Public Safety Committee
April 21, 2206
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson
City Administrator
FROM: James Beere
Interim Chief of Police, OPD
SUBJECT: OPD Cellebrite Technology
DATE: March 5, 2026
City Administrator Date
Approval
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Approve A Resolution:
(1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement With Cellebrite, Inc. For The Provision Of Universal Forensic Extraction Devices And Related Services For The Oakland Police Department, For A Contract Amount Not To Exceed One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) For The Period July 1, 2026, To June 30, 2027;
(2) Waiving The Competitive Multistep Solicitation Process And The Local/Small Local Business Enterprise Program Requirements; And
(3) Accepting The 2024 Cellebrite Annual Report And Making A Determination Regarding Whether The City Should Continue To Use This Technology.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) has utilized Cellebrite mobile forensic extraction technology to assist with criminal and administrative investigations since approximately 2014. In March 2024, the City Council approved the Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED) Use Policy and Impact Report. Since acquiring the updated Cellebrite device in July 2024, OPD has dramatically expanded its digital evidence capabilities. In 2024, OPD conducted over 270 criminal and administrative extractions. Usage grew to over 600 extractions in 2025, and OPD has already conducted approximately 200 extractions in 2026 to date, demonstrating the sustained and increasing demand for this technology in support of criminal and administrative investigations.
The technology has proven instrumental in solving violent crime, identifying suspects, and supporting successful prosecutions across homicide, robbery, felony assault, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other serious crime investigations. OPD's current Cellebrite, Inc. subscription expires in June 2026, and renewal is necessary to maintain Jestin Johnson (Apr 15, 2026 21:19:32 PDT)
Apr 15, 2026
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Cellebrite Technology
Date: March 05, 2026 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
April 21, 2026
this critical investigative capability. The annual subscription cost has increased to approximately one hundred forty thousand dollars.
BACKGROUND AND LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
The advancement of mobile technology and the rise of social media has led to the mobile device being a vital accessory, frequently carried by individuals on a near constant basis. As such, mobile devices, and the digital evidence associated, have become an essential part of any criminal investigation. Mobile device forensic extraction is an expected part of a criminal investigation, used to retrieve any and all video surveillance footages.
In March 2024, the City Council approved a resolution (C.M.S. 90161) adopting OPD's Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED) Use Policy (DGO I-30) and accompanying Surveillance Impact Report, following unanimous recommendation by the Privacy Advisory Commission in December 2023.
Prior to July 2024, OPD operated an outdated Cellebrite UFED device with limited capability, particularly in extracting data from locked devices. After acquiring the updated Cellebrite Premium device in July 2024, OPD's extraction capabilities expanded significantly. From February to June 2024, the older device was used only 35 times for criminal investigations. After the upgrade, criminal extractions increased to 237 for the remainder of 2024. In 2025, OPD utilized the technology over 600 times, and has already conducted approximately 200 extractions in 2026 to date.
The Cellebrite, Inc. subscription has been funded at approximately $96,000 (ninety-six thousand dollars) for the 2024–2025 period. Due to increased vendor costs, the renewal for the upcoming subscription period will be approximately $140,000 (one hundred forty thousand dollars). This resolution seeks City Council approval for the increased funding necessary to renew the subscription and maintain OPD's digital forensic extraction capability.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Demonstrated Effectiveness
Since acquiring the updated Cellebrite device in July 2024, the technology has proven to be a critical tool in OPD's investigative capability. In 2024, Cellebrite, Inc. extractions directly contributed to solving multiple robbery series, attempted homicides, human trafficking cases, and homicide investigations. In several cases, data extracted from suspect devices was the key evidence that led to the identification of additional suspects and successful prosecutions. OPD's usage has grown from 270 extractions in 2024 to over 600 in 2025, with approximately 200 already conducted in 2026, reflecting the sustained investigative need for this technology.
Authorized Purposes and Legal Authority
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Cellebrite Technology
Date: March 05, 2026 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
April 21, 2026
Per the existing use policy (DGO I-30), OPD is limited to using the Cellebrite technology to extract electronic information from mobile devices in the following scenarios:
• Administrative investigations involving OPD work phones • Criminal investigations with the issuance of a search warrant to search the mobile device • Criminal investigations with documented consent to search the mobile device by the authorized possessor of the device or owner of a device that has been reported lost or stolen
• Criminal investigations where OPD has a good faith belief that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires access to the electronic device information
In the case of an identified exigency, a contemporaneous application for a search warrant shall be made whenever possible and no later than 48 hours after use.
Policy Alternative
The alternative to renewing the Cellebrite, Inc. subscription would be to allow the subscription to lapse, which would effectively eliminate OPD's ability to conduct mobile forensic extractions.
Given the demonstrated reliance on this technology across hundreds of investigations annually, and the critical role digital evidence plays in modern criminal investigations, allowing the subscription to lapse would significantly impair OPD's ability to investigate and prosecute violent crime.
Annual Report
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 staff's Cellebrite annual surveillance report (Attachment A) 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 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.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Cellebrite Technology
Date: March 05, 2026 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
April 21, 2026
WAIVER RATIONALE
Oakland Municipal Code (“OMC”) Title 2, Chapter 2, Article I, section 2.04.042 B. requires that the City Administrator conduct a competitive multiple-step proposal solicitation process for the acquisition of technical professional services.
OMC section 2.04.042 D. provides that the City Council may waive the competitive multiple step proposal solicitation process upon a recommendation of the City Administrator and finding and determination by the City Council that it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive multi-step proposal solicitation requirement.
City staff recommends that it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive multiple- step solicitation process for the acquisition of any computerized or information technology systems because Cellebrite, Inc. is the only vendor with technology that can effectively extract the majority of the phones OPD encounters.
RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS
This agenda item is a routine item and does not relate to any Oakland strategic planning efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for Cellebrite will be at a cost not to exceed one hundred and forty thousand dollars ($140,000) for the time period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 and sufficient funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Biennial Adopted Budget.
Funding is available in Fund: (2255) Measure NN - Community Violence & Emergency Response Act of 2024, Organization: (108630) Ceasefire, Account: (54919) Services Miscellaneous Contract, Project: (1008060) Measure NN-OPD Operations, and Program: (TBD) To be determined.
Table 1: Project Funding Source
Fund Source Organization Account Project Program Amount 2255 Measure
NN -
Community
Violence &
Emergency
Response Act
of 2024
108630 Ceasefire 54919 Services
Miscellaneous Contract
1008060 Measure
NN-OPD
Operations
Program
TBD
$140,000
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Cellebrite Technology
Date: March 05, 2026 Page 5
Public Safety Committee
April 21, 2026
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST
No public outreach was deemed necessary for the proposed policy action beyond the standard City Council agenda noticing procedures and the Privacy Advisory Commission review required by Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 9.64. OPD staff collaborated with the Privacy Advisory Commission in the creation of the original use policy for the system, which was adopted by City Council. OPD has also submitted multiple annual surveillance technology reports to the Privacy Advisory Commission since adoption. This is seeking approval for additional funding to continue the use of this system.
COORDINATION
This report and legislation have been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and Budget Bureau. The use policy was approved unanimously by the Privacy Advisory Commission December 7, 2023. PAC made a determination that the benefits to the community of the Cellebrite technology outweigh the costs and approved it to be forwarded to Council at PAC on September 4, 2025.
RACE AND EQUITY
Staff did not complete a Racial Equity Impact Analysis on the recommended policy action. This is the continue usage of a system already approved by The Privacy Advisory Commission and City Council.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: OPD Cellebrite Technology
Date: March 05, 2026 Page 6
Public Safety Committee
April 21, 2026
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Staff Recommends That The City Council Approve A Resolution:
(1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement With Cellebrite, Inc. For The Provision Of Universal Forensic Extraction Devices And Related Services For The Oakland Police Department, For A Contract Amount Not To Exceed One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) For The Period July 1, 2026, To June 30, 2027;
(2) Waiving The Competitive Multistep Solicitation Process And The Local/Small Local Business Enterprise Program Requirements; And
(3) Accepting The 2024 Cellebrite Annual Report And Making A Determination Regarding Whether The City Should Continue To Use This Technology.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Sgt. Yun Zhou at [email protected].
Reviewed by:
Dr. Tracey Jones, Police Services Manager
OPD, BRM, Research and Planning
Omar Daza-Quiroz, Acting Deputy Chief
OPD, Criminal Investigation Division
Prepared by:
Yun Zhou, Sergeant of Police
OPD, Criminal Investigation Division, Homicide
Attachment (1):
(A) Cellebrite 2024 annual report