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Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br /> <br />July 26, 2016 <br /> <br /> <br />Honorable John L. Grandsaert, Grand Jury Judge <br />Southern Court <br />400 County Center, Department 11 <br />Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 <br /> <br /> <br />RE: Grand Jury Report “Body Worn Cameras – The Reel Truth.” <br /> <br /> <br />Dear Judge Grandsaert: <br /> <br />On behalf of the City Council of the City of Redwood City, I would like to thank you for the <br />opportunity to respond to the Grand Jury Report dated May 24, 2016, regarding police use of <br />body-worn cameras in San Mateo County. The following response to the Grand Jury Report <br />was reviewed and approved by the City Council at its meeting on <br />July 25, 2016. <br /> <br />Pursuant to Penal Code Section 933.05, the Grand Jury requested responses from the City of <br />Redwood City on Recommendations 1 and 3. The Recommendations and the City’s response <br />are detailed as follows: <br /> <br /> <br />R1. The Grand Jury recommends that the councils of those cities/towns that have not <br />adopted body-worn cameras direct their respective chiefs of police to develop an <br />appropriate body-worn camera implementation plan and advise the public of their plan <br />by November 30, 2016. <br /> <br />Agree: A report on body-worn cameras will be prepared for City Council and public <br />review within the stipulated timeframe. <br /> <br />R3. The Grand Jury recommends that the police departments of those cities, towns, and <br />the Broadmoor Police Protection District that have not adopted body-worn cameras <br />implement a body-worn camera system as soon as possible but, in any case, no later <br />than October 31, 2017. <br /> <br /> <br />Partially Agree: The City agrees with the basic premise that body-worn cameras are an <br />important technological enhancement in the current era of modern policing. The City <br />recognizes the inherent benefits that body camera evidence provides for transparent <br />reviews of officer performance, the value of decreasing false claims against officers, <br />lessening civil liabilities, along with increasing the speed at which criminal prosecutions <br />conclude. <br /> <br />However, the City believes that the timetable of October 31, 2017, recommended by the <br />Grand Jury for implementation of a body-worn camera system may not be feasible. The <br />City is in the process of determining the long-term financial commitment this endeavor <br />will require and will seek to secure funding from grants or other competing programs. <br />6.1.J. - Page 4