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Oklahoma City is set to consider renewing its ALPR vendor contract with Flock Safety after it expired in June. The city council was slated to discuss the item during its Tuesday meeting, but that has now been pushed to August. According to OKC's public information officer Kristy Yager, the police department needed more time to work on the contract.
Oklahoma City Police Department's operations manual, which was updated June 16, outlines guidelines for using ALPRs:
- Used to "help identify stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, missing persons, or locate vehicles connected to a crime or other law enforcement connected activities."
- ALRPs can only be accessed by authorized officers.
- Officers are directed to take additional steps to verify an ALPR alert because "ALPR data alone cannot be used to confirm an alert and does not verify vehicle registration information. "
- ALPRs do not keep data for longer than 60 days unless required by law.
RELATED: Concerns about OKC Flock cameras grow, lawmakers push for interim study
Community members fight to end Flock camera use
The ACLU of Oklahoma said it has submitted a petition with more than 1,200 signatures to Oklahoma City's city council to end the use of Flock cameras within the city. Executive Director Tamya Cox-Toure said city council members also received about 123 similar individual inquiries from constituents.
You can read the petition and its demands here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/xaZ6FccesUuUPw2qL9rPEQ2
MORE: What are Flock Cameras? Are there any in OKC?
Choctaw set to discuss whether or not to keep Flock cameras
Flock cameras are also on Choctaw's city council meeting agenda for Tuesday. According to Mayor Chad Allcox, council members will vote on either keeping or removing the four Flock cameras being used in the city.
"The question for our community isn't whether technology exists. The question is where we, as a community, believe the balance should be between public safety, privacy, transparency, and individual liberty," stated Allcox in a Facebook post.
The city council meeting is happening at Choctaw City Hall at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Public comments are allowed.
"I encourage everyone to stay informed, ask questions, and, if you choose, attend the City Council meeting and share your thoughts. Whether you support keeping the cameras or removing them," Allcox added.
News 9 reached out to Flock Safety for a statement in response to privacy concerns on Monday but did not hear back by our publishing deadline.
