# Joint Committee: Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Public Safety meeting, September 30, 2024

- When: Mon, Sep 30, 2024, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1013333143
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1013333143.txt) (23,151 words, official captions)

## Meeting notes

> AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development held a joint subject-matter hearing on technology that could enhance public safety; no legislation was voted on. After four public commenters, a sergeant from the Oak Brook Police Department presented StarChase, a GPS dart system used to track fleeing vehicles instead of pursuing them, and answered members' questions about cost, weather, training, crash history, racial profiling concerns and how it might fit Chicago. Chicago Police Department officials then described the department's new drone program, which began with five drones and a small team, its use at large events and in a robbery investigation, the Illinois laws governing its use, and plans to seek about 12 officers and drone-as-first-responder capability. Members asked about privacy, tracking and reporting of flights, counter-drone efforts, civilian pilots and costs, and the co-chairs said the joint committee intends to stay engaged as the city considers public safety technology after ending ShotSpotter.

Topics: StarChase vehicle tracking, Police drone program, Vehicle pursuits, Public safety technology, Privacy and oversight, Police staffing

### Agenda items discussed

- [32:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=1950) Public comment: discussed
- [45:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=2752) Presentation on StarChase pursuit mitigation technology by the Oak Brook Police Department: discussed
- [1:28:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5325) Presentation on the Chicago Police Department drone program: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (chair): Asked how Oak Brook coordinates StarChase tracking with other jurisdictions and the State Police when vehicles cross municipal lines. ([52:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3132)); Clarified that the Oak Brook sergeant testified as a law enforcement subject matter expert and not as a representative of the vendor. ([1:16:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4572)); Asked whether drone technology could be used together with StarChase for aerial tracking. ([1:27:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5231))
- [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (chair): Asked CPD what the scope of the drone program is given limited capacity and for examples of results. ([2:27:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=8823)); Asked whether CPD is pursuing additional grants and noted the city would bear maintenance costs after grant-funded purchases. ([2:28:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=8924)); Said technology will play a significant role in public safety and that he looks forward to supporting related initiatives. ([2:30:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=9001))
- [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Asked whether most StarChase uses involve stolen cars and how one-officer cars could deploy it. ([54:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3262))
- [Anthony V. Napolitano](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/41) (alderperson): Asked how StarChase performs in Midwest weather and whether tracking data can be shared with neighboring departments. ([56:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3385)); Asked CPD about drone performance in bad weather, whether pilots are sworn officers, hive deployment, camera zoom and flight limits near airports. ([1:51:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=6690)); Said he is very supportive of drones as a tool against open-air drug markets, chop shops and gang activity and that the city must modernize or be left behind. ([1:57:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=7050))
- [Scott Waguespack](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/32) (alderperson): Asked about StarChase equipment and subscription costs and how it integrates with license plate readers and real-time crime center software. ([58:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3532)); Asked whether the drone unit tracks unauthorized drone flights near schools and airports and what CPD is planning for counter-drone capability. ([2:12:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=7974)); Noted the canceled ShotSpotter contract of about $8 million a year and suggested some of that funding could support the drone program. ([2:28:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=8907))
- [Walter R. Burnett](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/27) (alderperson): Called StarChase a fantastic product but asked whether its use could lead to accusations of racial profiling. ([1:01:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3679))
- [Desmon C. Yancy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/5) (alderperson): Asked about StarChase's cost, how often it is deployed, whether its success rate reflects vehicle recovery or prosecution, and whether it has been challenged in court. ([1:03:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3798)); Asked whether StarChase may be used outside pursuits and what the deployment policy is. ([1:25:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5108))
- [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (alderperson): Asked about Oak Brook's response times and noted Chicago's larger area could limit officers' ability to get close enough to deploy StarChase. ([1:07:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4027))
- [Chris Taliaferro](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/29) (alderperson): Asked how many StarChase deployments Oak Brook has had. ([1:11:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4263))
- [Andre Vasquez Jr.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/40) (alderperson): Asked about Oak Brook's fleet size and costs to understand scaling StarChase to Chicago, and whether there were misuse incidents. ([1:11:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4295)); Said the city often adopts technology without a clear plan for its purpose and asked for contract and cost data through the chair. ([1:15:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4540)); Expressed concern about drone surveillance and asked how CPD tracks and reports flights, stores video, and interacts with the Inspector General and CCPSA. ([2:19:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=8351))
- [Peter Chico](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/10) (alderperson): Suggested StarChase would be most effective in Chicago's specialized units rather than broadly across districts and asked about training and crash history. ([1:17:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4620))
- [Jessica L. Fuentes](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/26) (alderperson): Asked whether StarChase has caused property damage and noted minor damage would cost less than lawsuits from chases. ([1:23:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5022))
- [David H. Moore](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/17) (alderperson): Said every technology tool can help deter crime and asked why CPD chose its drone vendor. ([2:00:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=7245)); Asked whether civilians could serve as drone pilots to reduce costs. ([2:06:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=7580)); Asked whether drones could be used against ongoing drug activity and requested a copy of the state law governing drone use. ([2:07:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=7659))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:07:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4027) Lee noted that Yancy had already asked one of her questions about effectiveness.
- [1:16:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4572) The chair thanked Vasquez after his questions.
- [2:12:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=7968) The chair thanked Moore and recognized Waguespack.
- [2:19:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=8340) The chair thanked Waguespack and recognized Vasquez.
- [2:30:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=9001) Villegas said it was a pleasure teaming up with Hopkins on the hearing and invited his closing comments.
- [2:30:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=9044) Hopkins thanked his co-chair before giving closing remarks.

## Documents

- [Other](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/621fbd83-d3b5-49c1-8684-ed053ebcee9f.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/702e22cd-fa3c-4c66-9c86-26345cc7784b.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/b704bd95-1bd8-4c72-b34e-f7c4eae1e836.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/c84bab66-a7c8-40f2-9a1e-4e00a8d433db.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1F310882-2A75-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt