Police describe World Cup planning, drone program and propose diversion options for ebike enforcement

Police Chief Rachel Johnson told the council Feb. 24 the department is preparing operational and regional coordination plans tied to FIFA World Cup activities and to the 2028 Olympics. The department has sought FIFA grant funding for staffing and equipment and is planning traffic‑control and security measures while awaiting FIFA's determinations about teams and fan activities.

Chief Johnson also described planned modernization of police infrastructure: a drone first‑responder program intended to improve situational awareness and response times, and a multi‑year replacement of CAD/RMS systems. She stressed recruitment and retention as an underpinning of public‑safety capacity.

On ebikes, the department signaled a change in approach. Staff said the issue requires education, enforcement and policy options; in addition to fines, the police would like council direction on piloting diversion programs that pair riders (and for minors, their parents/guardians) with an education class or community program. The police noted an existing diversion model used in nearby Beach Cities and said diversion often requires parental participation for juveniles.

Councilors asked whether diversion would replace fines; police answered it would be an "and/or" tool: fines remain an option, but diversion could be used for eligible incidents to encourage behavior change. The department will return with policy options and a recommended diversion framework for council consideration.