Police departments in Wapello County, Iowa, are reportedly instructing officers to conceal their use of Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras from the public and in official reports. A usage policy document for these surveillance cameras explicitly directs officers not to inform vehicle occupants about ALPR usage.
The policy further states that ALPR usage should not be mentioned in police reports or complaints unless it is deemed "absolutely necessary." This directive suggests an effort to minimize the public record and awareness of the technology's deployment.
Flock Safety, the company behind the ALPR systems, markets its cameras as tools to assist law enforcement in solving crimes by capturing license plate information. However, the secrecy surrounding their use in Wapello County raises concerns about transparency and privacy.
Critics note that such policies echo past practices by law enforcement agencies regarding other surveillance technologies, such as IMSI-catchers (commonly known as Stingrays). In those instances, police departments went to considerable lengths to obscure their deployment and operational details.
The instruction to avoid mentioning ALPRs in reports could make it difficult for defense attorneys or the public to ascertain when and how the technology was used in specific cases, potentially impacting legal proceedings and oversight. The policy document itself serves as direct evidence of this internal directive within the Wapello County law enforcement.
