Sandoval wants more access to footage

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - An unexpected use for The City’s surveillance cameras has supervisors calling for a change in legislation that has already led to controversy over public safety and privacy rights.

Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval has recently proposed adding language to The City’s existing crime-camera ordinance that would allow the Public Defender’s Office, private defense attorneys and court-appointed investigators access to camera footage from The City’s disaster agency.

Under current law, the footage from the cameras is held only for seven days, to address civil-liberty concerns, and police can request footage only after a crime takes place.

San Francisco installed its first surveillance camera in 2005 and now there are approximately 70 of the high-tech security devices in various parts of The City.

Public Defender Jeff Adachi said the changes are necessary because police investigators often dismiss camera footage as ambiguous.

The changes would also require the Department of Emergency Management, where footage is kept for only a week, to hold on to the video for at least 14 days and up to 30 days in some cases.

Lisa Hoffmann with the Department of Emergency Management said the changes in retention time weren’t necessary because the administrative staff of the agency automatically holds footage if it has been requested by anyone.

The committee recommended the changes to the full Board of Supervisors which will vote on it in January.

bbegin@examiner.com