The City and County of San Francisco may install public safety cameras only in locations where the Chief of Police has determined, following a public meeting held in accordance with subsection 19.4(b) of this Chapter, that installation would enhance public safety. The cameras shall record areas perceptible to the human eye from public streets and sidewalks only. Images obtained by public safety cameras may be released only to the following:
(a) Sworn members of the Police Department holding the rank of Sergeant or higher. Police shall limit review of images to investigation of specific crimes, active operations, and crimes in progress. A sworn member holding the rank of Captain or higher may approve live monitoring of these images/camera feeds; and
(b) The Public Defender, other criminal defense attorney, or an investigator appointed by the Court to assist a pro se criminal defendant. Requests may be made only in connection with the investigation or defense of a charged criminal case. Any recordings released may be used only in connection with the charged criminal case. The requesting individual may disclose the recording only to the defendant and any expert retained by the requesting individual, and to no other individual. This Subsection (b) shall not preclude the requesting individual from disclosing any recording during a hearing or trial in the charged criminal case if the Court approves such disclosure. Any person who discloses a recording in violation of this Subsection (b) shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment; and
(c) The District Attorney as provided in Section 19.6.
(Added by Ord. 127-06, File No. 060086, App. 6/22/2006; Ord. 32-08, File No. 071536; amended by Proposition E, 3/5/2024, Eff. 4/12/2024)