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Police commission presses city on camera performance after Chronicle footage leak
Summary
The San Francisco Police Commission questioned city officials on Tuesday about technical limits of a 74-camera pilot and safeguards after footage appeared in the Chronicle. City staff said a UC Berkeley study due March 20 will measure efficacy; commissioners pressed for audits, protective orders, and a process to pause cameras during permitted demonstrations.
San Francisco The Police Commission pressed city officials on Thursday over the performance and handling of the citys community safety camera pilot after a San Francisco Chronicle story published camera footage.
City Administrator Ed Lee told the commission the program includes 74 cameras at about 25 locations and that the city contracted with UC Berkeleys research team (referred to in testimony as "Citrus") to evaluate whether the system is effective. He said the research teams preliminary report is expected March 20 and that he had asked the Board of Supervisors to amend reporting timelines so the evaluation could cover a full year of data.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the cameras were approved as a limited pilot with explicit privacy safeguards and conditions — including a requirement that footage generally be released only under court order — and they want prompt answers about why footage appeared in the Chronicle. Several commissioners said technical limits and the possible…
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