Police Mobile Observation Tower Purchase Gets Thumbs Up by Council

The Pasadena City Council approved a $400,507 contract on Monday with Reconview LLC for the purchase of a mobile observation tower. The vote was 6-1-1.

Councilmember Tyron Hampton abstained, and Felicia Williams voted against the item.

But like previous meetings, the matter sparked several discussions, including conversations on privacy rights, policy, and who should pick up the tab for the technology.

The mobile observation tower can be raised to a height of up to 30 feet and features high-definition cameras with 40x zoom and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) ballistic protection for officers stationed inside. This advanced protection ensures the safety of officers in high-traffic areas, particularly during large-scale events.

The device will be used primarily at Rose Bowl events.

That part of the policy sparked concerns with Hampton, who asked if the Rose Bowl Operating Company had discussed paying some of the money for the big-ticket item. This information was not included in the agenda item.

Hampton voted in favor of the item at the Public Safety Committee last week. He requested that the police speak to the Rose Bowl about chipping in on payment for the tower.

However, the Rose Bowl Operating Company has not met since that Public Safety Committee meeting, so the discussion did not take place. Due to constraints on grant funds, Hampton said he would support the item with a caveat that the discussion on the Rose Bowl Operating Company picking up some of the tab take place.

Hampton told Pasadena Now earlier in the day that he absolutely supported the public safety aspect of the tower.

“First, it’s an added extra level of security,” Hampton told Pasadena Now on Monday afternoon. “It could also be used as a deterrent for anyone who thinks they can get away with something foolish. The Rose Bowl is nestled within a single-family residential neighborhood, and this is a tool that could prevent a situation from spilling into the neighborhood.

“Since this item will not be used for day-to-day public safety applications, I think the Rose Bowl should contribute to paying for this, as 90% of the use will be within the Rose Bowl footprint. Otherwise, I am supportive of this. Anything that brings an extra level of security and safety to our residents and visitors to protect lives is a good thing.”

Councilmember Jess Rivas supported the item after asking questions about policy guaranteeing that steps would be taken to ensure the tower would not be used to violate the privacy of people in their homes.

The tower has four high-definition cameras that allow the police to zoom in on incidents. However, the cameras can be turned off individually to guarantee that police are not accidentally violating privacy laws.

According to the policy, the tower must be used in conjunction with privacy laws.

The item has previously been heard at the Police Oversight Commission and the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.

Mayor Victor Gordo defended the tower and pointed out that the city has the only Special Events Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 (the highest level on a scale of 1 to 5) in Southern California.

SEAR 1 events require extensive federal coordination and support.

The Rose Bowl hosts numerous events attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year. Pasadena will host soccer matches as part of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

The tower is also equipped with police lights and a public address system, allowing it to function as both a visual marker for assistance and a means to direct crowd control during emergencies.