Keizer advances camera installations and body‑cam policy; discusses homelessness outreach and data sharing

City staff told the council the street‑camera installation project is largely complete and has produced investigatory benefits for the Police Department. The Police Chief reported the in‑use system has improved investigative timelines and that staff are finalizing a body‑worn camera policy in coordination with the district attorney's office and the police association; the chief said policy language remains under negotiation and hoped to implement body cameras within weeks to months once the policy is finalized.

Brown also described license‑plate‑reader (LPR) data‑sharing agreements with Marion County and the City of Salem. He said the partnerships often yield timely investigative leads, but staff acknowledged contemporary concerns in other jurisdictions about broader data sharing; staff said Keizer’s agreements include restrictions intended to manage access.

On homelessness, staff discussed outreach to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and clarified that the point‑in‑time (PIT) count is performed biannually in the regional Continuum of Care; staff said recent PIT counts yielded low local tallies ("between 7 and 10 individuals") and that HMIS and provider surveys are used for a fuller picture of need when PIT counts are not performed annually.

Council requested a February update on body‑camera policy progress and asked staff to continue coordinating with county partners on LPR and PIT methodologies. No new policies were adopted at the meeting.