Township administrator’s column

by Vito Sinopoli

Automatic License Plate Reader technology has recently received significant national attention, particularly surrounding Flock Safety and the way some law enforcement agencies have used the system. Much of that attention has focused on legitimate concerns about privacy, data collection and the potential misuse of technology. Those concerns deserve to be discussed openly.

However, it is important to distinguish between a technology and the people responsible for using it.

Like any law enforcement tool, ALPR cameras provide officers with an investigative resource, and in many cases, the only lead available to investigators. A license plate captured by an ALPR camera can help establish where a vehicle was recently seen, identify a vehicle associated with a crime, find missing persons or provide investigators with information that would otherwise be extremely difficult or impossible to obtain.

Bath Township Police Department partnered with Flock Safety in 2023 and recognized from the beginning that having access to this technology comes with significant responsibility. The department established clear policies governing its use. Every Flock search conducted by a Bath officer must be connected to a specific law enforcement case or legitimate investigative purpose. Supervisors routinely audit system activity to ensure personnel are using the technology appropriately and responsibly.

Recent national reporting has highlighted instances where a small number of law enforcement officers at other departments allegedly used ALPR systems for unauthorized or personal purposes. Those incidents are concerning and should not be dismissed. But they also demonstrate an important distinction: The problem is not necessarily the technology itself, but the safeguards, or lack thereof, surrounding its use.

We trust law enforcement officers with many powerful tools and responsibilities. Officers are entrusted to exercise discretion when making arrests, enter homes when legally authorized, carry firearms, access sensitive databases and handle confidential information. Those responsibilities require training, supervision, clear policies and, most importantly, accountability. ALPR technology should be treated no differently.

In August alone, Bath Township officers used the Flock system to assist in locating two endangered missing persons who were experiencing medical issues. The system also alerted officers to a vehicle stolen in Cuyahoga Falls that had entered Bath. Officers located the vehicle, and the suspect fled on foot before being apprehended without incident. ALPR technology has also assisted Bath officers in locating theft suspects and identifying vehicles and drivers involved in hit-skip motor vehicle crashes. These are real-world examples of technology being used for legitimate public safety purposes.

That does not mean ALPR technology is perfect, nor does it mean privacy concerns should be ignored. Responsible law enforcement leaders should welcome difficult questions and engage with residents about how the technology works, what information is collected, how long information is retained, who can access it and what safeguards are in place.

At the same time, it’s worth recognizing that we live in an increasingly technological society. The cellphones in our pockets can provide extensive information about our locations. Cameras are commonplace in retail stores, businesses, residences and public spaces. Modern policing must adapt to the world in which we live and responsibly utilize technology when it can help protect people.

The answer to concerns about technology misuse should not automatically be eliminating the technology. Eliminating a valuable investigative tool does not address the underlying problem of human misconduct. The better answer is responsible training, transparency, clearly established policies, routine supervision, auditing and holding individuals accountable when they violate those standards.

Ultimately, the question is whether we trust the men and women entrusted with protecting our community to use these tools responsibly. The Bath Township Police Department operates under strong ethical standards, and our officers understand the expectations placed upon them.

Leadership requires making decisions in the best interest of both the organization and the community. That includes embracing technology that can make our community safer, while simultaneously ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to preserve and protect the public’s trust.