Public Safety Subcommittee Regular Meeting – July 23, 2024

The Public Safety Subcommittee of the Santa Rosa City Council met on July 23, 2024, at 9:03 a.m. (adjourned at 11:12 a.m.) to discuss the Police Department’s response to the Independent Police Auditor’s recommendations, the proposed Real Time Crime Center, and updates from the Police and Fire Departments. No formal action was taken; all items were informational.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (April 23, 2024): Mayor Natalie Rogers abstained because she was not present at the April meeting. The minutes were approved as submitted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 6.2 – Real Time Crime Center:
  • Lauren Mendelsohn (Sonoma County ACLU) spoke in opposition, stating the center would create a vast surveillance network and that the community, not police, should lead decisions on surveillance technology.
  • Keith Rhinehart thanked the police department for its culture shift but expressed concerns about drones capturing minor domestic incidents and potentially drawing families into the justice system.
  • Danielle Nelson (General Manager, Santa Rosa Plaza) spoke in support, noting that organized retail theft is a serious issue and that the center would help combat crime and support downtown businesses.
  • Susan Carrell (reading a statement from Robin Jures, Center for Justice) opposed the center, calling it “spying” on citizens and visitors and expressing fear about its potential misuse.
  • Omar Figueroa (personal capacity) opposed the center, citing the need for a formal surveillance technology ordinance with guardrails, including prohibitions on facial recognition and predictive policing, and warning of liability under the Fourth Amendment.
  • Melissa Stewart (small business owner, parent) expressed support, noting that crime in her neighborhood and at schools (e.g., a student killed at Montgomery High School) makes her feel unsafe, and she sees the center as a necessary tool.
  • Susan Lamont (District 2) opposed the center on broader grounds, arguing that it creates a permanent surveillance infrastructure that could be abused by future leaders or federal authorities.
  • Jennifer LaPorta opposed the center, stating it crosses a line into unwarranted invasion of privacy and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities; she advocated for community-based solutions.

Discussion Items

• 6.1 Response to Independent Police Auditor’s (OIR) Recommendations:

  • Captain Dan Marincik and Chief John Cregan presented the Police Department’s response to the six recommendations from OIR’s 2023 annual report. The department agreed with all recommendations and detailed steps taken, including: providing more detailed finding letters (within confidentiality limits), documenting non-disciplinary interventions, enhancing objectivity of subject interviews after force incidents, emphasizing learning opportunities in force reviews, updating the database template to include “training and counseling,” and implementing a Major Incident Review Board for critical incidents. Chief Cregan highlighted statistics: the department responded to 122,000 calls, made 7,000 arrests, used force in 193 incidents (0.15% of calls), had zero in-custody deaths, zero officer-involved shootings, and seized 255 illegal guns in 2023.
  • Subcommittee members praised the department’s culture shift and transparency. Councilmember Alvarez asked about predictive policing; Chief Cregan confirmed no such technology is used or planned. Mayor Rogers noted the importance of treating residents with dignity and respect.

• 6.2 Real Time Crime Center (RTCC):

  • Chief Cregan, joined by Lieutenant Josh Ludtke, outlined the vision for the RTCC: a consolidation of existing technologies (ALPRs, surveillance cameras, drones, body-worn cameras, CAD, RMS) into an integrated platform to improve real-time situational awareness, response times, and investigative efficiency. Key points:
    • Funding: $898,000 federal earmark specifically for community gun violence reduction; no general fund money used.
    • Technology: No facial recognition, no predictive policing, no gunshot detection in phase 1. Drones are used reactively for missing persons, fleeing suspects, and crime scene mapping, not for proactive patrols.
    • Policies: Existing department policies on ALPRs, cameras, and drones are publicly available; a new RTCC policy is being drafted. Data retention: ALPR data stored on encrypted servers for 30 days only. No sharing with ICE (per California law). Routine audits planned.
    • Community engagement: Chief met with ACLU in December 2023, held a strategic plan meeting in March 2024, and continues to attend community meetings. He declined to support a surveillance ordinance like Sebastopol’s, citing operational limitations, grant competitiveness, and increased city liability.
  • Subcommittee discussion addressed privacy concerns, security of data, future funding, and safeguards against misuse. Councilmember Alvarez expressed fear that the RTCC is a “Pandora’s box” and requested a formal ordinance memorializing boundaries. Chair Okrepkie noted that no action could be taken by the subcommittee and that any future changes would require full council approval.

• 8.1 Police Department Update:

  • Chief Cregan reported that all sworn officer positions are filled, with 28 female officers (a department record) and the latest academy class 50% female. The department won multiple awards for DUI enforcement, including Department of the Year for Northern California, with over 850 DUI arrests in 2023.

• 8.2 Fire Department Update:

  • Fire Chief Scott Westrope reported that the department has 10 vacant suppression positions, with 6 new firefighters in an internal academy. Construction of Fire Station 5 is underway (completion April 2025), and Fire Station 8 in Roseland is in the design-build phase (contract award expected October 2024). Two new engines have arrived in Sacramento; five more expected fall 2024. Two SAFER grant squads went into service July 16, with a combined 137 incidents in the first seven days and an average turnout time of 40 seconds. The department is working on implementing Measure H (sales tax) with a draft implementation plan due December 2024.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or actions were taken; all items were for discussion and information.
• The next regular meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee is scheduled for October 15, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
• Mayor Rogers requested that the ACLU’s proposed surveillance technology ordinance be sent to council members for further review.
• Councilmember Alvarez expressed interest in formalizing boundaries for the RTCC through an ordinance or resolution.