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Keizer council directs staff to draft support letter for bill easing drone use in policing
Summary
Keizer councilors voted to direct staff to prepare a letter supporting Senate Bill 2308, which would expand law enforcement use of drones in certain circumstances; council also agreed to authorize signatures by city leaders and the police chief on the letter.
The Keizer City Council on Monday directed staff to draft a letter in support of Senate Bill 2308, legislation that would authorize expanded law enforcement use of drones in specified circumstances.
City Manager Brown briefed council on the bill, explaining that existing rules in many cases require warrants before drone use and that SB 2308 would eliminate some warrant requirements to enable faster operational responses. Brown said he had discussed the measure with Chief Copeland and that the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police supported the bill.
Chief Copeland described the bill as bringing drone policy “into the 21st century,” saying the change could provide real-time intelligence and improve safety for officers. He also said Keizer’s police department is not immediately planning to deploy drones in place of officers but that other agencies already operate drones in advance of patrol units.
The council voted to suspend the rules so staff could prepare and submit the letter promptly; the motion to direct staff to draft the letter was moved and seconded and carried unanimously with two members absent. Councilors discussed adding signatures and logos to the letter; the council agreed it would be appropriate for the mayor and police chief to sign and for the letter to note council’s support.
City staff said the House Judiciary Committee had a work session scheduled soon, and council members requested the letter be prepared in time for that committee review. Staff and council noted the bill had bipartisan support in the Senate but faced opposition from the ACLU and other civil-liberties advocates.
Council members asked staff to prepare a joint letter with the city and police-department logos and to circulate a draft to council before submission. The motion directs staff to prepare the draft; council did not take additional policy action on drone use Monday.
