REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Informational Report to Council on Department of Public Safety's Implementation of small Unmanned Aircraft System Program
Report
BACKGROUND
Over the last year, the Department of Public Safety has been following the implementation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) throughout the state and nation. This technology, commonly referred to as "drones", has been successfully utilized by both police and fire organizations and continues to be sought after by several emergency response organizations as an opportunity to enhance services to their respective communities. The technology provides tools that can expedite incident resolution or provide additional safety to all parties involved in an incident.
In early 2018, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) began development of a draft policy through the collaboration of multiple agencies throughout California that have implemented sUAS programs. DPS's draft policy incorporates the use of law enforcement best practices related to recommendations from research conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and took into consideration public interest groups and constituents concerns regarding the use of this technology.
DPS aims to launch a sUAS program in early 2019. In preparation, staff hosted several community meetings to introduce the use of sUAS in Sunnyvale. Staff presented research findings and best practices and addressed questions and concerns about the future implementation of a sUAS program.
EXISTING POLICY
GOAL SN-2: Effective Disaster Preparedness
Ensure that the City, its community members, businesses, faith-based organizations, community organizations and special needs populations are prepared to effectively respond and recover from major disasters and emergencies.
GOAL SN-3: Safe and Secure City
Ensure a safe and secure environment for p...
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