TRANSPARENCY ACT - SB 978
On January 1, 2020, California Senate Bill 978 modified Penal Code section 13650. PC 13650 now requires law enforcement agencies to post certain records on their websites. This legislation requires POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) and local law enforcement agencies to post conspicuously on their websites “all current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials that would otherwise be available to the public” if a request was made pursuant to the California Public Records Act, located in Government Code §§ 6250 et seq.
In compliance with SB-978, POST has made available through their website all presenter course content, unless the material falls within an applicable exemption under the Public Records Act.
>>> San Ramon Police Department's Training Schedule and Requirements <<<
Information on training courses presented by the San Ramon Police Department are available to view on the POST Open Data web site. Type "San Ramon Police Department" in to the "Presenter Name" field and click search leaving all other fields blank.
Flock
Automated License Plate Reader Technology
The San Ramon Police Department currently operates 56 Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras throughout the city. These cameras are an important investigative tool that helps officers and detectives identify vehicles associated with criminal activity, develop investigative leads, and solve crimes more efficiently.
Flock Safety cameras have assisted the Department with a variety of investigations, including burglaries, robberies, organized retail thefts, and other serious crimes.
ALPR technology captures vehicle-related information that can help investigators identify vehicles associated with a crime, establish timelines and travel patterns, and connect related incidents across multiple jurisdictions. It does not replace traditional investigative work but provides officers and detectives with an additional tool to help identify and follow investigative leads.
Regional Collaboration
Crime does not stop at city boundaries. San Ramon Police participates in a network that allows the Department to share information with and access information from more than 300 law enforcement agencies throughout California. The list of agencies with access can be found here.
This collaboration can help investigators identify vehicles associated with crimes committed in neighboring communities and locate vehicles that may enter San Ramon following criminal activity elsewhere. Likewise, information collected in San Ramon may assist other California law enforcement agencies with their investigations.
San Ramon Police does not share or access ALPR data with federal or out-of-state agencies through its Flock network.
Accountability and Oversight
The San Ramon Police Department maintains safeguards designed to ensure ALPR technology is used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
The Department's Investigations Lieutenant serves as the Flock Administrator and conducts monthly audits of system activity. These audits review who accessed the system, the searches conducted, and the documented reason for each search. Users conducting license plate searches are required to provide a legitimate law enforcement purpose and an associated case number.
Access to San Ramon's camera network is carefully controlled. Each authorized user is assigned an individual account, and two-factor authentication is required to provide an additional layer of account security. Law enforcement agencies requesting access to San Ramon's system must submit a formal request that is reviewed and approved by the Department's Flock Administrator.
San Ramon Police does not share or access ALPR data with federal or out-of-state agencies through its Flock network.
Community Partnerships
The Department also benefits from partnerships with private businesses and community organizations that voluntarily provide law enforcement access to their own Flock Safety camera systems. These partnerships can provide additional information when investigating crimes occurring on or near participating properties.
While participating private entities may voluntarily provide law enforcement with access to their camera data, the San Ramon Police Department does not provide its law enforcement ALPR data to those private organizations.
Supporting Public Safety
Flock Safety ALPR technology provides San Ramon Police with an additional investigative resource to identify vehicles associated with criminal activity, develop leads, collaborate with other California law enforcement agencies, and solve crimes more efficiently.