West Hollywood City Council will review and consider the approval of proposed policies for the use of public safety equipment and technology to support community safety efforts in West Hollywood. The proposed measures include the use of drones as first responders, the installation of fixed real-time cameras, and the establishment of a real-time watch center.
City staff have recommended a comprehensive approach to addressing community and operational concerns with these enhancements. The council will also consider allocating $750,000 from unallocated General Fund Reserves to support these initiatives for the fiscal year 2025. The funds would be distributed evenly among the three projects, with $250,000 designated for each.
Discussions about these safety enhancements began at a special meeting on August 14, 2023, involving the city council and the Public Safety Commission. The focus was on improving security at city facilities. Between September and November 2023, further outreach was conducted with various commissions, including the Human Services Commission, the LGBTQ+ Commission, the Public Safety Commission, and the Social Justice Advisory Board. Their feedback was subsequently communicated to the city council. On December 4, 2023, staff presented an update to the city council and received direction to draft policies addressing community and operational concerns. These policies were refined with input from the Public Safety Commission on June 17, 2024.
The draft policies emphasize transparency, data usage, privacy considerations, and operational impacts. Below are summaries of the proposed policies and pilot programs:
The proposed drone policy will restrict operation to authorized personnel from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. Drones will be used for specific incidents such as calls for service, search and rescue operations, high-risk tactical operations, and special events. Prohibited uses include tracking individuals for out-of-state legal enforcement or Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations. Privacy precautions are highlighted to avoid recording areas with a reasonable expectation of privacy. Data not deemed evidentiary will be purged after 30 days. The policy includes provisions for handling complaints and conducting quarterly audits. The one-year pilot program will operate 40 hours a week and will cost an estimated $250,000. The program will be staffed by a Deputy certified as a remote drone pilot and a trained contractor.
The draft policy for fixed real-time cameras pertains to the installation of cameras in public right-of-way areas, streaming live video feeds to the Real-Time Watch Center. Fixed cameras will support criminal investigations and be accessed reactively by field units or dispatch personnel. The one-year pilot program, estimated at $250,000, will include the installation of over 50 cameras and a mobile fixed camera trailer unit. The city plans to partner with Flock Safety for the camera installations.
Only authorized personnel of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station or personnel assigned to auxiliary units working under the direction of West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station Supervision will be allowed to access fixed cameras within the Real-Time Watch Center. Prohibited uses, privacy considerations, public record requests, collection of evidence, complaints, auditing, and training will be consistent with what is reflected in the proposed UAS (drone) station order. However, all data not deemed as evidence shall be purged after 365 days in accordance with state law. There will not be a need to add any personnel for the use of fixed cameras as part of the pilot program as the monitoring of said cameras will be on a reactive basis. Existing personnel that currently staff the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station dispatch center and Detectives assigned to the station will be trained to access the fixed cameras and will be the same personnel staffing the Real-Time Watch Center and/or already assigned to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
In addition, no additional personnel are required for the placement and removal of the mobile fixed camera trailer unit. The cost of the one-year pilot program is estimated at $250,000, which will include the installation of over 50 cameras strategically placed in locations citywide based on crime statistics, as well as the leasing and/or purchase of one mobile fixed camera trailer unit. The cost also includes the leasing of equipment, ongoing maintenance/support, and cloud storage for up to one year as required by state law.
Some of the cost may also be subsidized in partnership with the business community, which is an area staff will explore. It would take approximately 180 days to implement a fixed real-time camera pilot program. In addition, city staff will not have access to any of the software/video components, and all public records act requests will be managed by the LASD.
The Real-Time Watch Center (RTWC) draft policy serves as the hub that will be established at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station for the monitoring of live video feeds from drones and fixed real-time cameras. It will also act as the focal point for access to previously captured camera footage, such as from the existing Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras, communication with patrol units, and updates to Deputies out in the field during incidents occurring in the city.
The RTWC shall be staffed at all times by trained personnel when the UAS (drone) is active and deployed and when accessing fixed real-time cameras. Only authorized personnel of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station or personnel assigned to auxiliary units working under the direction of West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station Supervision will be allowed to access the RTWC. Prohibited uses, privacy considerations, public record requests, collection of evidence, complaints, auditing, and training will be consistent with what is reflected in the proposed drone and fixed real-time camera station orders.
After reviewing multiple cities with RTWCs, in partnership with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, staff recommends implementing its own RTWC within the West Hollywood Station of the LASD as a one-year pilot program consistent with what is being proposed for the use of drones and fixed real-time cameras.
While public safety technologies such as drones, fixed real-time cameras, and ALPR cameras have great stand-alone capabilities, the potential to use them in an integrated fashion is a force multiplier. The cohesive use of technology, combined with integrated operational systems, has the potential to revolutionize the way West Hollywood secures the city. The RTWC will serve as the command center for this network and will integrate all available public right-of-way safety technology with the goal of reducing crime, allowing for more efficient communication amongst dispatch, field personnel, and drone pilots, and improving the safety of all first responders, residents, and visitors of West Hollywood using real-time data in a unified manner.
If approved, Flock Safety’s real-time intelligence center will serve as the single centralized platform that houses all drone, fixed camera, and ALPR camera data. Staff will also work with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station on providing updates on the pilot program as part of the semi-annual community safety report, and if needed, more frequently to address any community concerns.
The cost of the one-year pilot program is estimated at $250,000, which will include the purchasing of equipment, installation, development of a real-time watch center online dashboard, and communication/storage software. It would take approximately 180 days to implement an RTWC. In addition, city staff will not have access to any of the software/video components, and all public records act requests will be managed by the LASD.
Personnel will not be added for the use of the RTWC as part of the one-year pilot program. Existing personnel that currently staff the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station dispatch center will be the same personnel staffing the RTWC located at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
The city council will consider these recommendations and the associated budget allocations. If approved, the implementation of these safety enhancements will begin within 180 days, with regular updates provided to the community. The proposed policies aim to leverage technology to improve public safety while ensuring privacy and operational efficiency. The city’s commitment to transparency and community engagement remains a priority as these initiatives move forward.
I sent the full article to the CC, but this is a portion of the text: This type of analysis is not possible without transparency around the program in Chula Vista, which, to its credit, publishes regular details like the location and reason for each of its deployments. Still, that department has also tried to prevent the public from learning about its program, rejecting California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests for drone footage. This led to a lawsuit in which EFF submitted an amicus brief, and ultimately the California Court of Appeal correctly found that drone footage is not exempt… Read more »
Once this program proves its’ worth, I hope that the Sheriff’s Department will allow it to be run/monitored by non-uniformed employees as this will be cheaper and allow for more uniformed deputies to be patrolling our streets.
Think about it, Mr Martin.
Your issues about transparency are well take.