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Page 6 of 13 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />voice concerns, and seek clarification on relevant issues. To further support transparency and community <br />involvement, the meeting was live streamed, allowing residents to observe the proceedings and stay <br />informed about matters affecting their safety and well-being. <br />During the presentation, PAC members were supportive of the information provided and the <br />Department’s ongoing efforts. They asked several clarifying questions about the SRT team, certain <br />procedural aspects, and the Department’s drone program. One member also emphasized the importance <br />of remaining proactive in policing efforts. The Police Advisory Committee expressed support for the Police <br />Department’s efforts, engaging in constructive dialogue to ensure responsible implementation, <br />protection of privacy, and continued alignment with community expectations surrounding trust and <br />transparency. <br />In addition to engagement with the Police Advisory Committee (PAC), the Department’s Special Response <br />Team (SRT) has taken proactive steps to connect with the community and demonstrate its equipment <br />through the English and Spanish Community Academies and the Youth Academy, providing residents with <br />firsthand exposure to specialized tools. This interactive approach promotes transparency and fosters <br />trust, understanding, and collaboration between law enforcement and the community. During the <br />reporting period, there were no community complaints related to the use of military equipment, and the <br />Department’s internal audit found no policy violations. <br />Equipment Previously Approved for Use and Purchase <br />Armored Rescue Vehicle <br />Council approved the use and storage of an Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) by the Police Department in <br />May 2023. The vehicle was acquired through a federal grant awarded to the Port of Redwood City, which <br />contracted with Lenco for its purchase. The ARV was delivered to the Department in July 2025. During <br />2025, the vehicle was deployed on two occasions in support of critical incidents where enhanced <br />protection for officers and community members was necessary. Prior to any deployments, the <br />Department adopted a formal policy governing the deployment, operation, and oversight of the ARV. <br />While the Military Equipment Use Policy was not updated prior to use of the ARV, the acquisition was <br />identified in the Policy last year and adoption of the proposed Policy this year will correct the <br />noncompliance. This corrective action will ensure future compliance. <br />Drones <br />In April 2024, the City Council approved the use and storage of drones by the Redwood City Police <br />Department, authorizing the development of a formal UAS program. Initial planning anticipated startup <br />costs of approximately $87,000 and included policy development, personnel training, acceptable use <br />standards, and the implementation of data storage and sharing protocols. The program became <br />operational in 2025 and has since evolved into a core public safety tool supporting patrol response, <br />investigations, search operations, and situational awareness. <br />The UAS program operates under Department Policy 438 adopted by the Department. Policy 438 <br />establishes guidelines for the use of UAS to support public safety operations while ensuring strict <br />adherence to constitutional protections, privacy rights, and applicable federal, state, and local laws. The <br />policy emphasizes that UAS use must be narrowly tailored to legitimate public safety purposes, with <br />operators required to avoid recording areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy <br />9.A. - Page 6 of 197 <br />363