The Little Rock Board of Directors is set to vote on several contracts for the Little Rock Police Department, including additional surveillance technology, at their upcoming meeting on February 18. One contract being considered is for 30 new license plate reader cameras from a company called Flock Safety. These cameras have raised concerns from privacy and civil rights advocates due to their mass surveillance capabilities.
Flock Safety’s cameras collect information such as license plate images, vehicle characteristics, and location data, which can be accessed by law enforcement agencies. The LRPD retains data captured by the cameras for 150 days before automatic deletion, and checks this data against various law enforcement databases.
The city board will also vote on funding for evidence-management software and new vests for the police department. Additionally, an ordinance proposed by City Director Capi Peck would require city directors to attend meetings in person, ending pandemic-era allowances for virtual attendance except in cases of medical emergency.
The purchase of the license plate reader cameras would use taxpayer funds, as previous purchases were funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. The board recently voted against renewing a contract for ShotSpotter, another surveillance system, due to concerns about the use of taxpayer dollars. Overall, the upcoming meeting will address important issues related to police technology and city governance.
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