Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Elizabeth Lake FROM: James Beere
Acting City Administrator Interim Chief of Police
SUBJECT: OPD Surveillance Technology 2025
Annual Reports
DATE: June 10, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Approve A Resolution: (1) Accepting The 2025 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; (G) Pen Register; And (H) Cellebrite; 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, Forensic Logic CopLink/CrimeTracer, Live Stream, Pen Register, Cellebrite, and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Drones.
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 Betsy Lake (Jul 2, 2026 10:23:57 PDT)
Jul 2, 2026
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Surveillance Technology 2025 Annual Reports Date: June 10, 2026 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
would be as effective. Alternatively, 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, City Council may require modifications to the Surveillance Use Policy that will resolve any deficiencies.
On April 2, 2026 , OPD presented the Annual Surveillance Report s for Cellebrite, Forensic Logic CopLink/Crimetracer, and Pen Register to the PAC and after consideration of the Annual Surveillance Reports, the PAC made a recommendation to the City Council that the benefits to the community of the surveillance technology in question outweigh the costs and that civil liberties and civil rights are safeguarded and to approve continued use of the technologies.
On June 4, 2026, City staff presented the Annual Surveillance Reports for the ALPR, FLIR, UAS/Drones, Biometric Crime Lab, and Livestream to the PAC and after consideration of the Annual Surveillance Reports, the PAC made a recommendation to the City Council that the benefits to the community of the surveillance technology in question outweigh the costs and that civil liberties and civil rights are safeguarded and to approve continued use of the technologies.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
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 Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), Biometric DNA, Forensic Logic CopLink/CrimeTracer, Live Stream, Pen Register, Cellebrite, and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)/Drones.
RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS
This agenda item is a routine item and does not relate to any Oakland strategic planning efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT
This item is for informational purposes only and does not have a direct fiscal impact or cost. 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, as well as noticing procedures for the Privacy Advisory Commission.
However, each report details if community outreach was needed or if community feedback was received about the technology.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Surveillance Technology 2025 Annual Reports Date: June 10, 2026 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
COORDINATION
These reports were scheduled to the Privacy Advisory Commission agenda. PAC reviewed, discussed, and approved of these reports on April 2, 2026 and June 4, 2026. This report and legislation have been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney.
RACE & EQUITY
Staff did not complete a comprehensive Racial Equity Impact Analysis on the recommended policy action; each annual report contains its own respective race and equity impact and breakdown, if applicable.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Approve A Resolution: (1) Accepting The 2025 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; (G) Pen Register; And (H) Cellebrite; 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
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OPD Surveillance Technology 2025 Annual Reports Date: June 10, 2026 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
July 14, 2026
OPD, BRM, Research and Planning Unit
Attachments (6):
A: Cellebrite, Forensic Logic CopLink/Crimetracer, Pen Register B: UAS/Drones
C: FLIR
D: Biometrics Crime Lab
E: ALPR
F: Livestream