Sabha, Tamer
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Jennifer Collins <[email protected]>
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:56 PM
Sabha, Tamer
Other cities are scaling down mass surveillance. Why is Pasadena's increasing? [A] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button (PAB). For more information about the PAB view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
M T Sabha,
Community members have been raising concerns about surveillance technology for years, and we have been coming to city meetings in increasing numbers to talk to you about howdangerous this is. Other cities are cancelling contracts and recognizing the frequent abuses of this technology that inevitably occur, but Pasadena is doubling down. Why? In addition to adding more and more surveillance cameras to our city, Pasadena PD wants topurchase more drones and significantly expand their use outside of SWAT. Our City Council, as well as the Public Safety Committee and the Community Police Oversight Commission,has a responsibility to discuss what that would mean for the people who live, work, and spend time in Pasadena.What vendors are up for these contracts, what use of drones isacceptable, what safeguards will be in place? The public should be allowed and encouraged to weigh in. The potential purchase and use of robots should be discussed as well.
With few exceptions, public commenters have been telling you again and again that we do not want more drones, ALPRs, Flock cameras, or any other kind of mass surveillance technology here. Please listen to the people of Pasadena.
Jennifer Collins
Pasadena, California 91104
1 Sabha, Tamer
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Yadi
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:02 PM PublicComment-AutoResponse; PublicComment-AutoResponse; Diaz, Eligio Public Comment - Pasadena Public Safety Committee Meeting - 09/16/26 Comment - Pasadena Public Safety Committee - 09-16-26 Drone DFR Policy.pdf [ ill,] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you (mow the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button (PAB). For more information about the PAB view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
Hi,
Please find attached my public comment for the September 16, 2026, Pasadena Public Safety Committee Meeting, agenda item 2.D. Proposed Pasadena Police Drone DFR Policy.
Thanks,
Yadi
1 2. AB 481 D - Drone (UAS) Policy
I give the Pasadena Police Department an "A" for their effort to co-opt the Police Oversight Commission as having spoken on behalf of the community and giving their blessing for a full-blown Drone As First Responder Program.
No, we do not support DFR and no we do not support this expansive DFR proposed policy.
This proposed expansive PPD drone policy blatantly ignores the public's input and is not reflective ofthe broader public's overwhelming opposition to mass surveillance.
Do not approve this expanded policy, it needs more discussion and direction from City Council as to what DFR is, what it will look like and cost, and get the community buy in before sourcing grants, before changing policy, before issuing RFI or RFPs, before purchases, before placing it on a city council agenda consent item.Why is the burden on residents to have to voice their opposition to every surveillence tool, how many more Flock-like fights must we have?
Enough is enough.
Keep the drones within SWAT. Keep the prior drone policy with more stringent privacv protections.Ensure our public's information isn't being used to train Al or being shared or sold to unknown third parties.
Yadi
Pasadena Public Safety Committee Meeting
September 16, 2026
2. AB 481 D - Drone (UAS) Policy
Pasadena Police Department
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
Policy
622 Pasadena Police Department Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
622.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS)and for the storage, retrieval and dissemination of images and data captured by the UAS.The department realizes the use of unmanned aerial systems requires careful oversight to protectprivacy, civil liberties, and public trust while supporting legitimate public safety operations. 622.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
—@fefte-es-FtFst-Res^aF(d®r-{OF^—fl^ use of an Unmanfle4-A eraft-Sy6tem (UAS) deptoyo44nTespeFtse4e--eati8--f&f-®eFwee-eHfteMente4o-pf©v!de-^^ OMH -s^pport-of-arriving pefs&rwei-
—Remote-Pttot4it-©emR nd-(RPl&)—The^efsefi desi§fiated by the dopartmont who is ro'sponsible- ^rti[eT)peratiorTard--safety-Gf4=h^S4rraccordanee-wtth-^pp}^^(AUnmanned aerial system (UAS) - An unmanned aircraft of any type that is capable of sustainingdirected flight, whether preprogrammed or remotely controlled (commonly referred to as a drone oran unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)), and all of the supporting or attached systems designed forgathering information through imaging, recording or any other means.
Visual Observer (VO) - A person assigned to assist the Remote Pilot in Command by maintainingvisual line of sight of the UAS, monitoring the surrounding airspace, and communicating hazards or other relevant information to ensure safe operation.
622.2 POLICY
Unmanned aerial systems may be utilized to enhance the department's mission of protecting livesand property when other means and resources are not available or are less effective. Any use of aUAS will be in strict accordance with constitutional and privacy rights and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
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Pasadena Police Department
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
622.3 PRIVACY
The use of the UAS potentially involves privacy considerations. Absent a warrant or exigent circumstances, operators and observers shall not intentionally record or transmit images of anylocation where a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g., residence, yard, enclosure). Operators and observers shall take reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images of areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy to include deployments over sensitive locations, including schools and hospitals. When feasible and consistent with the mission, operators shall use flight positioning, camera orientation, or other reasonable measures to minimize the incidental capture of individuals, bystanders, and private areas unrelated to the authorized purpose of the deployment. 622.4 USE OF UAS
Each UAS deployment shall bo tied to a oatl for oorvioe, inveGtigation, planned public safetyoperation, emergency response, or other specific and articulablc public safety purpooo. UAS shallnot be used for generalized surveillance, random patrol, or roving monitoring.Only authorized operators who have completed the required training as described in section 622.7 shallbe permitted to operate the UAS. Deployment of the UAS is authorized by the Chief of Police or their designee, for the following missions:
Drones ao a Firot RoGpondor (DFR) to optimizQ response to calls-for-Service thatinclude but ore not limited to:
In Progress crimesCatls=foi-yeiviue wtieie a lebpuiise by ground units may be detayedCalls-for-scrvicc where roal time aerial intolligence can provide responding officers with imme^ete-srtuattenal-awaFeness to enhanGe44eti-Fespens©-&F -prevent unncccssa<y-N^h riok Gontaet-(4e-es©atatiGft).
Tactical opoFationc inGly4if»g SWAT operations
Crime Gcono documentation and Traffio ©Glti&ion.4&Gyffiw»tattQ«- -Sea-rehos for-mfe®H=^ or endan§QF®d-p©epte--Seafehes4ei-&y&peete b©lieved4©-be4ft-shdefH 4-pw+m®tef--€xigerrl-ctrettmsteftees4ft-the4mmecii«te-defense of life or gfeat bodily harmPur&uanl lu a &earcl'i warrrant, arrest-warrarrt-or court orderCritical inddefrt-management, disasteM:esp©nse-fift4^efnago aGsooomont Counter TeTTOflSfn-eperatiofl®-
•Prejeel^tefmmg-efl^-thfeatQssessmefit imaging of infrastructwc and facilitioG -Moppw^ oritiGal infrastoGtyfeCopyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/02/26, All Rights Reserved.
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Pasadena Police Department
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
UAS 11 lay be' d6P^;Vschtorhigpermitted-^verrts--parades--fes^^ -^thoF4»Fg@^uMG-^athaH»§s-tybQre4b©-Oapartment has-^-de^fflanagement-emorgcnoy rcQp@nQ€;--or secunty role. These events-are distinot-frefn--pro+ests; demonstratton®--arrd-©thef-Ri°st-Afnefldmef:rt-protecte€l-aetwitie9, whieh-afe- •governei^^eparatety-ynderthts-potiey-BeptQyments under this seetion shall be limited to situatforra^awarerrcss--fnwfftoTifig-<rewd-size-©n^^-pedestrian flow, jdentifymg-safeiy-hazards-^oefdtn^ting-^emergen^^Tespondmg-to-^pectfk^CTmTrrat^rthnty-erpt^^ tlAS may be dupluyed at everrts-mvutffmg-Fh-st AiTiendnTCTrt=prote'cted-activity only when --^^peetfte-ertteytefe^e-pyMe^afety-eeneem-^HffHfta^
-extsts-antt-crrriy-trpcrrrpri&r^tiperwsory-^ti+hisft^
-,^^g Q^jgf..Qf..p^[.j^g-^^.3^^g^g(j-^3^^
-gtridclincs in the intepeste of public safety whore there io Q Gpooific and arti©yta^!o threat to the-©fffetyofthc pu^ie-ef-pQtiee- -y^g-^^^.JQ^^^^^^^^^^_^g}^^i^y^e}^
-^enef84ty-«vatebte4e-4he-py^e-fF»y-fee-y©e449-^Qstet4R-4eea-fe^^ dbfiiiyd !syait;li aiea wiiyii ufhutiis ciit; lywfully present and the vieimng is H^^^ grggy^yj^pg-^o leayuoab'te expeutaliuii uf piivacy yxiyly ui WITCD in compfi-ance with a-seardr warrant or cowt-orcter-Any use based--GiT-exfgerrt-^rettmstaftees-shati-be4imited to the-scopc and duration of the -exigency and sheyk^-bo documcHted-when-pi-QcticQl. In all othor in&tenees, legal ooyft&el-&boy44-be -eeF^ulteelNothmg-hrthtS-T3&Hey4s4nt®nded4e^ditbfMhe-^eptey^•^T-prevert-^ert&ys-lwdrty-ifljury, provided •suefr-depteyfftent-o-eensiotent with apptieaNo law -andFAA-feguiatiefwUAS operations shall remain under human oversight by an authorized Remote Pilot in Command or as soon as practical when a UAS is autonomously launched in response to a call for service. ^yt"OWl'3tQGl-"SQf0tV fGSturQS, includinQ^b^St3ClQ^VOi(l2RC©, FGtUFF^ sflTnter-fancttons; may be used-when consistent-with-FAA regutetions, dcpQrtmont training, and theatrthoi-ized •missioftAll UAS equipment will be marked as Law Enforcement equipment in a manner that will not impact flight or safe operation when-possible.
-€Sa-5—4ntefageney-Ge®fdtnatJ©f»-
yAS--assTstarre«-pfovided4e-®trtsrte-agefteies-^F-«thef^^^-pybfc safety puFposc; appevod by the Chief of Police eF-aythoriz©dd©e4g«e©-aft4-el-QGym©flte4-m accordance with this policy. Date—eetieeted during interagency operations—shall be handled•-cons-fsterrt-wH'h^his-pe+icy, applicable law, and-the authorized purpose of the doploymcnt.
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Pasadena Police Department
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
Such coordinatiwrmay-iftdttcte-
-Seareh and rescue operations
IIUICillU Ul OIIU^IUICII IIIC ICO|JUTT;>C
^CTOLt/l Udl I ICiMt/ Ot30t;001 I 1^1
'ttazaiduub iiialerial incidenteFireworks suppression •or-enfGTcemen+-operatrefts--Emergency evacuation oporationc 622.6 PROHIBITED USE
The UAS shall not be used:
To conduct random surveillance activities.To assist with immigration enforcement.To target a person based solely on actual or perceived characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,economic status, age, cultural group, or disability.
To conduct aerial imaging of a person based solely on individual characteristics, such as, but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation. This does not apply in situations where these characteristics are specified and paramount tothe identification and/or apprehension of a particular person, or group of people, that have committed or are committing a certain felony.
To harass, intimidate, or discriminate against any individual or group.To conduct personal business of any type.The UAS shall not be weaponizedThe installation, activation, or use of biometric surveillance systems, including facial recognition, in connection with portable recorders is prohibited (Penal Code § 832.19). Reference PPD Policy 447.
Members shall not use facial recognition to actively surveil members of the public through any camera or video device unless the person(s) are under an active criminal investigationor the surveillance is in response to an imminent threat of life. Reference PPD Policy 447.
Members shall not use facial recognition on live stream-tmtess there is QR-wiminont throat to life. Reference PPD Policy 447.
UAS shall not be used to monitor, track, or document individuals or groups solely because they are engaged in constitutionally protected speech, assembly, or association. Th i s - does not prohibit UAG use when necessary for public safety, emergency response,crowd safety, protection of life, or response to an emerging threat.
UAS footage shall not be used to identify individuals engaged in lawful expressive activity except when reasonably necessary as part of a specific criminal investigation.
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Pasadena Police Department
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
622.7 UAS TRAINING
Personnel assigned to operate or support UAS operations shall complete department approved training and obtain required certifications and/or licenses prior to participating in operations.
Remote-fiiots in Command (RHC)'shall poss'es^^rrd-Tn-aflTtanra^alid FAA Remote-Pttef-Oerffieateirrat^ordanc^-wtth-M •e:F: R: -Part 107r c(mtptete-d&p®flmefi+-appfeved-4Fatt!wig7-^^ -pfQfi@j^fl^y-tft-the-ssfe-epeF'atiGn'--of the assi^ne^-UASRPICo ohall maintain oomplianoe with FAA recurrent training requirements and participate in-pefTO^e-pfefieieney -aQtivitioQ as eGtabti&hed-by the dopartment.Personnel assigned as Visual Observers (VO) shall complete department approved training appropriate to their assigned role, which shall include the roles and responsibilities of a VO,communication requirements, and basic airspace and safety awareness.
UAS training and proficiency shall be documented in accordance with department procedures.f^p{es-^hs}h-©pef8te-4^AG-4n-®—safe-«rd-fe^^ TCgutatroTTS^Departrnuiit puiiuy, aiid appliuabtfc; law RPtCs sliuuld 6v8lu<dte weathct, airspace, eqtfipmeftt-stattt87-fmsst€rttfteeete--8ft€hFt^^
-d®tey-termtftate-w-fetwo-Hsie4^AS-te-tese^^
622.8 UAS MISSION DOCUMENTATION
All UAS deployments will be documented. Documentation should identify the authorization basis forthe deployment, including whether the deployment was routine, exigent, interagency, or approved outside the listed uses by the Chief of Police or authorized designee.Mission documentation should include, when applicable:
••••
Date and time of deploymentLocation of operationMission purpose or categoryPilot in command and assisting personnelUAS platform used Whether images or video were captured
Associated case number if applicable
General outcome of the mission
Use of the UAS will be reported annually in the Military Equipment Report pursuant to AB 481. 622.9 RETENTION OF UAS DATA
All recordings of evidentiary value shall be retained for a period consistent with the requirements of the organization's records retention schedule, but no less than 1 year pursuant to GovernmentCode § 34090.6. Reference PPD Policy 450.
The department shall make reasonable efforts to minimize the collection and retention of data thatis not relevant to an authorized law enforcement or public safety purpose.
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Pasadena Police Department
Policy Manual
Unmanned Aerial System
622.10 ACCESS AND SHARING OF UAS DATA
Access to UAS data shall be limited to authorized personnel and legitimate law enforcement, publicsafety, training, administrative, legal, or evidentiary purposes. UAS data shall not be used for unrelated secondary purposes. Sharing with local, state, federal, or task force partners shall be for a legitimate public safety or law enforcement purpose and consistent with applicable law anddepartment policy.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
The Chief of Police will appoint a program coordinator who will be responsible for the management ofthe UAS program. The program coordinator will ensure that policies and procedures conform to current laws, regulations, and best practices and will have the following additional responsibilities:
Coordinating the FAA Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) application process and ensuring that the COA is current, and/or coordinating compliance with FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, as appropriate for department operations.
Ensuring that all authorized operators and required observers have completed all required FAA and department-approved training in the operation, applicable laws,policies, and procedures regarding use of the UAS.
Oversight of the Department's UAS training program and ensure that all personnel assigned as operators or observers receive the appropriate training consisted with FAArequirements and Department policy.
Coordinating the completion of the FAA Emergency Operation Request Form in emergency situations, as applicable (e.g., natural disasters, search and rescue,emergency situations to safeguard human life). • Maintain UAS inspection, maintenance, and record-keeping to ensure continuing airworthiness of a UAS, up to and including its overhaul or life limits.
Facilitating law enforcement access to images and data captured by the UAS.
Recommending program enhancements, practically regarding safety and information security.
Ensuring that established protocols are followed by monitoring and providing periodicreports on the program to the Chief of Police.Maintaining familiarity with the FAA regulatory standards, state laws and regulations, andlocal ordinances regarding the operations of a UAS.Supporting periodic review of the UAS program, including review of deployment data,policy compliance, training compliance, complaints or concerns, and alignment withpublic safety objectives.Coordinating with the Military Equipment Coordinator, when applicable, to ensure UASreporting is incorporated into AB 481 reporting, public transparency, and governingbody review processes.
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Supporting public-facing transparency efforts regarding the UAS program, including general program information, policy updates, and aggregated deployment data, subjectto operational security, officer safety, investigative integrity, and legal restrictions.Considering data security, reliability, public safety needs, applicable procurementrequirements, and NDAA compliance when recommending UAS equipment or programenhancements.
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