Agenda - Council - 09/22/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sheriff Wise explained that the Safe County Initiative includes drone -assisted response and expanded Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. Drone -assisted response would primarily change how quickly existing drone technology could be deployed, allowing a drone to launch when an eligible emergency call is dispatched and travel directly to the scene using GPS coordinates. He cited fire and law -enforcement incidents in which earlier aerial information could have helped responders assess the situation, determine the appropriate resources, or avoid unnecessary emergency measures such as a school lockdown. He emphasized that Minnesota law specifies when law enforcement may deploy drones and that agencies cannot launch them without an authorized purpose. Sheriff Wise explained that Ramsey currently has eight fixed ALPR cameras that photograph vehicles traveling on public roads and record the vehicle and license plate image, date, time, and location. Ramsey recently reduced its data -retention period from 30 days to seven days. The cameras can compare license plates with law -enforcement hot files containing vehicles that are stolen, associated with crimes, or connected with missing or endangered persons. When a potential match occurs, officers must verify the information and determine whether further action is warranted. ALPR data may also assist investigations by identifying vehicles matching known descriptions that traveled through a particular location during a relevant period. Sheriff Wise emphasized that Minnesota law significantly restricts collecting and using ALPR information. Law enforcement generally cannot use ALPR technology to monitor or track someone involved in a criminal investigation without a search warrant. However, exigent circumstances, such as locating an endangered vulnerable adult, may permit its use. State law limits the information collected to the vehicle image, license plate, date, time, and location, and the fixed cameras do not continuously follow vehicles throughout the community. Searches must have an authorized law -enforcement purpose, are logged and auditable, and the Flock Safety system includes an auditing feature designed to identify potentially suspicious search activity. Sheriff Wise clarified that ALPRs do not perform facial recognition and that immigration enforcement is not an authorized ALPR search purpose under Minnesota law. He acknowledged that technology could potentially be misused but maintained that strong controls, auditing, training, discipline, cybersecurity protections, and prosecution when appropriate provide safeguards against abuse. He recognized residents' privacy concerns as genuine. Still, he believed Minnesota has strong protections. He encouraged communities to consider the public - safety consequences of declining useful investigative technologies, particularly when serious crimes occur, and residents expect law enforcement to use reasonable resources to identify those responsible. Councilmember Olson asked whether the ALPR cameras were fixed directionally and whether they could zoom. Sheriff Wise confirmed the cameras were fixed after installation and did not pan, tilt, or zoom. Chief Bluml clarified that the City was also installing separate pan -tilt -zoom cameras in parks. Three were planned for the new waterfront/splash-pad area, with additional cameras contemplated in the 2027 budget for Central Park, Elmcrest Park, and Rivers Bend Park. Those City Council Work Session / September 8, 2026 Page 2 of 8