Smart Street Light Program

Dylan Moore
University of San Diego
LEPSL 530: Public Safety Law
Assignment 6.1: 21st Century Surveillance Technology
February 21, 2021

As law enforcement leaders we all want our families to grow up in a safe and thriving
environment where crime does not majorly affect them. We also want to ensure their
constitutional rights are protected in an ethical manner. The implementation of smart street
lights across the city of Lake Forest poses some unique capabilities for law enforcement
juxtaposed with the collaborative and constitutional challenges it brings. I believe the Orange
County Sheriff’s Department should utilize new street light technology in the city of Lake Forest
and continue to look ahead as new technologies develop.
Law enforcement is a dynamic and ever changing environment. Across the globe law
enforcement agencies are implementing new surveillance technology for law enforcement to
keep communities safe. China and India have implemented biometric and facial recognition
technology with great success.1 While many of those programs are not ever going to be
available in the United States for constitutional reasons, new technology is becoming more
readily available in the United States.
An example of new technology is the smart street lights which were already installed by
the City of Lake Forest. Smart street lights have added sensors deployed inside of them which
are used for a variety of purposes. Many of their uses include recording of an area, counting
pedestrians, weather gauges, brightness adjustments, and Wi-Fi broadcasting.2 These street
lights implemented in the City of San Diego have given investigators multiple leads otherwise
1
Presentation 6.2. Module 6: Surveillance, Ethics, and Tech Part II. University of San Diego. LEPSL 530: Public
Safety Law.
2
Presentation 5.1. Module 5: Surveillance, Ethics, and Tech Part I. University of San Diego. LEPSL 530: Public Safety
Law.
would have been cold cases. The video cameras can be accessed and provide valuable Intel to
the locations of suspects and direction of travel.
As the program progresses, there are legal and regulatory structures in California to
govern the implementation of surveillance technologies. The City of San Diego received major
backlash from its residents after implementing the technology without community input.3 A
surveillance ordinance was implemented quickly thereafter to restrict the police department’s
use of the technology, create a privacy advisory board, city council oversight, and direct
community input. In Lake Forest it is imperative the Sheriff’s Department works with the
community and the city council in the implementation process to ensure negative backlash
does not occur. In addition, California Assembly Bill 1215 passed which put a three year pause
on all facial recognition software being implemented in law enforcement body worn cameras.4
Oversight in the future whether from the local city council, board of supervisors, or the state
government is probable, however does not outweigh the benefits to the community in which
we serve.
I recommend the Sheriff’s Department in the City of Lake Forest engages the public,
community organizations, and privacy rights groups. We need a “forward looking ethics
centered approach.”5 The department should send a clear message of personal and mutual
accountability to our citizens. This should be posed first with our social media presence. Our
department already has a robust social media presence with thousands of people in the City of
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
5
Presentation 6.1. Module 6: Surveillance, Ethics & Technology Part II. University of San Diego. LEPSL 530: Public
Safety Law.
Lake Forest. We can pose live question and answers, videos, polls, etc. on the implementation
of this program. The department can post written articles on cell phone applications like
Nextdoor, Ring, Facebook, etc. which all have local crime watch groups. In addition, we need to
have town hall meetings with open dialogue within the community. The case from our
department should be made as to why utilizing this technology is a public good. We can partner
with the city council to ensure all opinions, questions, and statements are heard. Furthermore,
this will require the continued genuine, heartfelt investment from our agency into the
community to ensure they trust the direction we are heading.6 There must be constant
dialogue and response to the community’s questions.
With the dynamic nature of our profession the constant question should be how does
our department continue to be a proactive law enforcement agency like we always have been?
People who commit crimes within our city are becoming more technology savvy. It is our job as
law enforcement to ensure we not only keep up with the times, but implement technology
which will put us a step ahead. Surveillance technology whether it be aerial drones, smart
street lights, body worn cameras, etc. are the future of law enforcement.
This must be in accordance to our citizen’s constitutional rights. Ethically the
department must follow the longstanding right to privacy which all people have. With the smart
street light program however, the public has a less expectation of privacy walking in the public
outside of their homes. In addition, coordination moving forward as to where these street lights
are placed can be accomplished. The City of Lake Forest might only install the smart street
6
Presentation 6.2. Module 6: Surveillance, Ethics, and Tech Part II. University of San Diego. LEPSL 530: Public
Safety Law
lights in highly public areas and busy streets as opposed to more quiet residential areas. The
opportunities are endless to work with the people of our city for a brighter future ahead.
Furthermore, we can learn from the mistakes the City of San Diego made to implement a better
program with less community backlash. Ultimately it is the citizens of Lake Forest who we
serve. They are the linchpin of all new technology being implemented. When the community
supports law enforcement we are able to do our jobs more effectively.
In conclusion, the City of Lake Forest should implement the smart street light program
and invest to install more in the future. The Sheriff’s Department should interact with the
community to earn their support before utilizing their capabilities since they have already been
installed by the city. Also, we need to protect our own citizen’s constitutional rights to ensure a
safe and thriving community.
(1000 words)

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Dylan Moore

University of San Diego

LEPSL 530: Public Safety Law

Assignment 6.1: 21st Century Surveillance Technology

February 21, 2021

and continue to look ahead as new technologies develop.

readily available in the United States.

the locations of suspects and direction of travel.

dialogue and response to the community’s questions.

This must be in accordance to our citizen’s constitutional rights. Ethically the

supports law enforcement we are able to do our jobs more effectively.

safe and thriving community.

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