California Public Records Act Request
3/12/18
Hi Gary,
Thanks for your detailed response re your background (and your command staff’s) with the 2014 PERF report- on the various
perspectives re how individual police departments might implement policy, regarding the use and implementation of this important
technology (body-worn cameras). I have read the report several times, since its release, and can still benefit from a reread. I’m
most definitely a slow learner!
I am embarrassed to say that I have not recently kept up with when, or if, our department (Redwood City Police Department) has yet
rolled out body-worn cameras.
I recall attending one RWC council meeting, where you attended as well, where the subject was addressed. I recall personally
addressing the subject, and voicing my support for body-worn cameras, depending on the policy our department ultimately adopts.
Can you update me regarding the proposed timing, re the rollout for body-worn cameras, here in RWC? Can you send me the policy, or
proposed policy for their use? Please consider this request, a California Public Records Act request. I understand that you are
always very busy, so if you need more then 10 days to respond, no problem just let me know.
By the way, in addition to copying in the powers that be in RWC, I have also copied in Mark Petersen Perez, the owner and
publisher of the Palo Alto Free Press.
I’m sure you remember Mark. Mark and I used to attend meetings of the San Jose City Council, mostly around Taser issues. And other
police practices issues. You were almost the police chief in San Jose at the time.
Of course, you were always very gracious with the two of us, when we had questions and concerns with the Taser issue, and related
policy.
Just this last Thursday, the two of us attended the monthly meeting of the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission. The PAPD’s
command staff presented a draft policy, re body-worn cameras, to members of the HRC and the community.
Both Mark and I addressed the commission with our concerns that the proposed PAPD policy lacks transparency is several critical
areas. We are hopeful, that the PAPD command staff, will take some of the issues and concerns, re their proposed policy, raised by
the two of us, in addition to questions posed by several members of the HRC, seriously.
In other words, we are hopeful that the policy ultimately adopted by the PAPD, reflects critical input from the community, and is
not simply a policy dictated to us by the department.
It’s past time that important police practices, implemented in our communities, reflect a true give and take, collaboration,
between our police departments, and the communities they serve. I look forward to our next exchange.
Best regards,
Aram James
On Mar 12, 2018, at 9:47 AM, Aram James
wrote:
> Hi Gary,Thanks for responding, hope you are well. Mark Peyersen
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 12, 2018, at 9:37 AM, PD Gary Kirby wrote:
> Aram,
Thank you for thinking to forward the PERF report on Body-Worn Cameras. I am quite versed in the contents of the document as well
as all of my command staff who were provided a copy of the study when it first came out.
Regards,
Gary
Gary L. Kirby|Deputy Chief of Police
Redwood City Police Department
1301 Maple St. Redwood City, CA 94063
gkirby@redwoodcity.org [gkirby@redwoodcity.org]
(650) 780-7123 [tel:(650)%20780-7123] Office
From: Aram James [mailto:abjpd1@gmail.com [abjpd1@gmail.com]]
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2018 3:59 PM
To: minka.vanderzwaag@cityofpaloalto.org [minka.vanderzwaag@cityofpaloalto.org]; PD Gary Kirby; zachary.perron@cityofpaloalto.org
[zachary.perron@cityofpaloalto.org]; city.council@cityofpaloalto.org [city.council@cityofpaloalto.org]; dcbertini@menlopark.org
[dcbertini@menlopark.org]; hrc@cityofpaloalto.org [hrc@cityofpaloalto.org]; paloaltofreepress@gmail.com
[paloaltofreepress@gmail.com]; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@menlopark.org [citycouncil@menlopark.org]; roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu
[roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu]
Subject: PERF on implementation of body worn camera policy
http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Free_Online_Documents/Technology/implementing%20a%20body-worn%20camera%20program.pdf
[http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Free_Online_Documents/Technology/implementing%20a%20body-worn%20camera%20program.pdf]
Shared via the Google app [https://itunes.apple.com/app/google/id284815942]
Sent from my iPhone