Cryptocurrency company Ripple Labs, alongside a nonprofit backed by its founder, is set to donate nearly $9.4 million to the San Francisco Police Department’s Real Time Investigation Center. This initiative, which employs advanced surveillance technology, including cameras and license plate readers, aims to enhance the police department’s capabilities in monitoring ongoing crimes.
The substantial gift will facilitate the acquisition of critical equipment, notably funding the purchase of 12 new police drones. Additionally, the donation will cover a year and a half of sublease payments for 14,000 square feet of downtown office space, which Ripple is no longer utilizing.
According to city officials, the Real Time unit is slated to relocate from its current facility, the Hall of Justice, which is known for being outdated and seismically unsafe. The new office space at 315 Montgomery St. has already received approval from the City Attorney’s Office, ensuring a strategic shift to a more suitable location through the end of 2026, with Ripple designated as the ‘sublandlord.’
Part of the funding from this donation will be allocated to the police department via the San Francisco Police Community Foundation. This nonprofit, which was established in 2023 by billionaire Chris Larsen, the founder of Ripple, aims to bolster police morale, improve recruitment and retention, and ultimately provide tangible benefits to the local community.
A proposed city ordinance is being reviewed, which would authorize the police department to accept and utilize the significant donation from Ripple and the nonprofit. The proposal also seeks to waive the city’s competitive bid requirements when the police department acquires equipment and services using funds from the nonprofit. Notably, Larsen does not hold a position on the board of the nonprofit foundation.
Typically, donations to the police department receive straightforward approval from the Police Commission, and it is anticipated that this funding will pass without complications in the coming week. Commissioner Kevin Benedicto expressed optimism about the integration of new technology, emphasizing the importance of maintaining oversight and accountability throughout the process.
The San Francisco Police Department is recognized as one of the city’s most funded entities, with a proposed budget of nearly $850 million for the upcoming fiscal year. The recent establishment of the Real Time Investigation Center occurred in March 2024, coinciding with a citywide shift towards reducing restrictions on police surveillance and expanding the use of technology in combating crime. Voters notably approved Proposition E during this period, which emphasized the necessity of augmented technology access within the police department, paving the way for assets such as drones and additional surveillance cameras, even potentially undermining the oversight role previously held by the civilian Police Commission.
Chris Larsen played a crucial role in championing Proposition E, contributing $250,000 to secure its passage. His influence extends beyond this measure; he has long advocated for increased surveillance measures in the city, financially supporting a network of security cameras utilized by various community benefit districts.
As support wanes for stringent surveillance regulations, patterns of oversight appear to weaken. For instance, the once-lauded 2019 ordinance, designed to protect the city from unwarranted surveillance and prohibit facial recognition technology, has been circumvented by police operations. A state law requiring police departments to obtain approval before procuring military equipment has also met with limited resistance from city leaders. In fact, some, including Mayor London Breed, have seemingly endorsed the actions taken by the police department.
Recent developments have seen the city grant permission for police to live-monitor privately owned cameras throughout San Francisco, disregarding the concerns raised by privacy advocates. Following the passage of Proposition E last year, the police department began deploying its own surveillance cameras in select areas, starting with the Mission District.
Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst specializing in surveillance and technology policy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, voices concerns about the potential loss of oversight over police funding and surveillance practices. Guariglia argues that accepting substantial donations from affluent individuals relinquishes a degree of fiscal control over police operations. He warns that the growing reliance on nonprofit organizations like Larsen’s foundation allows police departments to access funds from wealthy patrons without adequate oversight.
While the proposal to accept the funding is positioned as a vital endorsement of the Real Time Investigation Center, with police officials reporting that it has assisted in over 500 arrests and improved public safety, questions remain about the future of surveillance practices in the city. Evan Sernoffsky, a police spokesperson, highlighted the advancements in technology facilitating real-time crime response, suggesting a shift in policing strategies that could redefine public safety measures in San Francisco.
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