Matters ▸ Attachment
Impact Report - GPS and Monitor — File 210908
APPENDIX A: SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IMPACT REPORT
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Department or Division:
Somerville Police Department (SPD)
Compliance Officer (name and
position):
Lt. Jeff DiGregorio
Submitted by:
Lt. Jeff DiGregorio
Date:
Surveillance Technology:
GPS and Monitor
X
Please identify the purpose(s) of the proposed surveillance technology.
Select ALL that apply by entering “X” in the left column.
Identifying and preventing threats to persons and property and preventing injury to persons or
significant damage to property
x
Identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting criminal offenders
x
Gathering evidence of violations of any law in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings
x
Providing information to emergency personnel
Documenting and improving performance of City employees
Executing financial transactions between the City and any individual engaged in a financial
transaction with the City
Preventing waste, fraud, and abuse of City resources
Maintaining the safety and security of City employees, students, customers, and City-owned or
controlled buildings and property
Enforcing obligations to the City
Operating vehicles for City business
Analyzing and managing service delivery
Communicating among City employees, with citizens, or with third parties
Surveying and gathering feedback from constituents
Other (Describe):
If the surveillance technology is used for a purpose not listed above, does the purpose comply
with the surveillance use policy? ___ Yes ___ No
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Complete ALL of the following items related to the proposed surveillance technology. Be as specific as possible.
If an item is not applicable, enter “N/A.” Do NOT leave fields blank.
1.
Information describing the surveillance technology and how it works:
GPS monitors would be placed into “bait” bikes or packages. This technology is deployed in times of upticks in
bicycle or package thefts. The GPS tracks the stolen item leading police to its location and the individual(s) who
stole the property. (Note: this technology has not been used recently)
a.
Authorized use – the uses that are authorized, the rules and processes required before that use, and the
uses that are prohibited (10.64.b.2):
This device would be used in the course of criminal investigation with authorization from a supervisor.
b.
Training – the training, if any, required for any individual authorized to use the surveillance technology or
to access information collected by the surveillance technology, including whether there are training
materials (10.64.b.9):
Device would be deployed by a member of the detective bureau with authorization and oversight of a supervisor.
This technology has been used in the past and is relatively simple to operate using a placed GPS device and a
monitor that tracks its location.
2.
Information on the proposed purpose(s) for the surveillance technology (10.64.b.1):
This technology is used to track stolen property and to aid in the investigation of property crimes
3.
Information describing the kind of surveillance the surveillance technology is going to conduct and what
surveillance data is going to be gathered (10.64.b.3):
This technology will only track the location of stolen property and is used in the active investigation of property
crime.
a.
Data access – the individuals who can access or use the collected surveillance data, and the rules and
processes required before access or use of the information (10.64.b.4):
There would be no collected data except the location of the GPS device at the time that it is used to track stolen
property.
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b.
Data protection – the safeguards that protect information from unauthorized access, including, but not
limited to, encryption, access-control, and access-oversight mechanisms; (10.64.b.5)
This device is not on any server or network thus unauthorized access would not be possible. It only indicates the
location of the GPS device.
c.
Data retention – the time period, if any, for which information collected by the surveillance technology
will be routinely retained, the reason that retention period is appropriate to further the purpose(s), the
process by which the information is regularly deleted after that period has elapsed, and the conditions
that must be met to retain information beyond that period (10.64.b.6):
There would be no retention of data, only case notes on where GPS was deployed and ultimately located.
d.
Public access – if and how collected surveillance data can be accessed by members of the public,
including criminal defendants (10.64.b.7):
If this device is used in a criminal case and prosecution, defendants could request information through discovery.
Any public information request regarding this device would be vetted through the law office.
e.
Third-party data-sharing – if and how other city or non-city entities can access or use the surveillance
data, including any required justification and legal standard necessary to do so, and any obligation(s)
imposed on the recipient of the surveillance data (10.64.b.8):
Data would not be shared unless there was a threat to public safety or if criminal investigation crossed
jurisdictional lines
4.
The location(s) it may be deployed and when:
This technology is deployed in conjunction with larceny investigations and used to “bait” a package or bike to
further locate suspects operating in the area.
5.
A description of the privacy and anonymity rights affected and a mitigation plan describing how the
department’s use of the equipment will be regulated to protect privacy, anonymity, and limit the risk of
potential abuse:
This device is only used in property crimes investigation under the direction of a supervisor and accordance of
department policy. The device is placed on property only and not property owned by anyone else besides the
Somerville Police Department.
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6.
The potential impact(s) on privacy in the city; the potential impact on the civil rights and liberties of any
individuals, communities or groups, including, but not limited to, communities of color or other marginalized
communities in the city, and a description of whether there is a plan to address the impact(s):
This technology is deployed in areas determined, with the assistance of the Crime Analysis unit, that are seeing
upticks in property crimes such as bike thefts or package thefts. The device is then set up in a package or a bike
in that area trending up in thefts, and tracked once the item is stolen. There is no particular neighborhood or
community target, but instead placement and use of this technology is based on most up to date crime analysis
data.
7.
An estimate of the fiscal costs for the surveillance technology, including initial purchase, personnel and other
ongoing costs, and any current or potential sources of funding:
This technology was purchased some time ago so actual cost is unavailable at this time. The technology consists
of GPS device and monitor. There is no ongoing cost to use this technology.
8.
An explanation of how the surveillance use policy will apply to this surveillance technology and, if it is not
applicable, a technology-specific surveillance use policy:
Since this technology tracks items and individuals whom have taken said items, the City’s Surveillance Policy
would apply
a.
Oversight – the mechanisms to ensure that the surveillance use policy is followed, including, but not
limited to, identifying personnel assigned to ensure compliance with the policy, internal record keeping
of the use of the technology or access to information collected by the surveillance technology, technical
measures to monitor for misuse, any independent person or entity with oversight authority, and the
sanctions for violations of the policy (10.64.b.10):
The supervisor authorizing this technology would be responsible for the compliance to the policy. This
technology use would be tracked via police reports written when it is deployed in the field. Based on the
simplicity of this technology there would be monitoring other than that done be supervisor authorizing its use.
Because this is used in ongoing criminal investigation there would be no authority outside the police department
that could oversee the use of this technology. Misuse of this technology could lead to discipline up to and
including termination.