Columbia Use of unapproved technology during exigent circumstances ordinance (§ 21-64)

The police chief may authorize the temporary acquisition or temporary use of surveillance technology by the police department in exigent circumstances without following the provisions of this article. If the police department acquires or uses surveillance technology pursuant to this section, the police department shall:

(1) Use the surveillance technology to solely respond to the exigent circumstance; (2)

Cease using the surveillance technology within thirty (30) days or when the exigent circumstance ends, whichever is sooner. Unless authorized under this article for further use, all use must end when the exigent circumstances end;

(3) Only keep and maintain data related to the exigent circumstance and dispose of any data that is not relevant to an ongoing investigation;

(4) Within thirty (30) days after the end of the exigent circumstances, submit a report to the city manager. The report must explain the exigent circumstances, why the technology or equipment was needed to address the exigent circumstances, how the exigent circumstances prevented the police department from following the approval process in this article, and describe how the technology or equipment was used.