Ordinance approving the Police Surveillance Technology Policy for electronic location tracking devices and making required findings.

This ordinance approves the San Francisco Police Department's (SFPD) Surveillance Technology Policy for the use of Electronic Location Tracking Devices. This policy, mandated by Administrative Code Chapter 19B and voter-approved Proposition E, outlines the authorized and prohibited uses of technologies such as GPS tags, RFID, and RF Beacons.

Key aspects of the policy include:

• Authorized Uses: Tracking a person, vehicle, or property with a warrant or warrant exception, as a vehicle pursuit mitigation option, and to aid Theft Abatement Operations.
• Prohibited Uses: Monitoring, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination based on protected characteristics; enforcing prohibitions on gender-affirming or reproductive care; and for non-law-enforcement purposes.
• Specific Restriction for Projectile Devices (like StarChase): Tracking must cease and the device removed once the suspect vehicle is apprehended.
• Safeguards: The policy emphasizes role-based access, CJIS-compliant security, data custody by SFPD, limited data sharing for lawful purposes, chain-of-command supervision, required training, and accountability through Internal Affairs and the Department of Police Accountability.
• Findings: The Board of Supervisors finds that the benefits of using these devices outweigh the costs and risks, that the policy safeguards civil liberties and civil rights, and that uses will not be discriminatory.

The ordinance makes required findings and approves the policy, which will become effective 30 days after enactment.