Recently, West Hartford police have been involved in two high-profile cases where automated license plate readers helped officers locate vehicles they were looking for. These cameras read license plates and can alert police when a vehicle connected to a stolen car, wanted person, or criminal investigation passes one of them. In West Hartford, these devices are known as Flock cameras because they are made by Flock Safety.
On September 29, Middletown police were searching for a suspect in a homicide. Information about the vehicle connected to that investigation was shared with other law enforcement agencies. A Flock camera in West Hartford alerted police to the vehicle. Officers located it, and after a pursuit that continued into Hartford, the suspect was eventually taken into custody.
A few days later, West Hartford police received another automated license plate reader alert, this time for a stolen BMW M6 in the New Park Avenue area. Detectives located the BMW and another vehicle that had been traveling with it. Two men were arrested. Police said one was driving the stolen BMW and the other was found carrying an illegal firearm.
In August, an officer in Saratoga Springs, New York, received a license plate reader alert for a vehicle wanted by Rocky Hill police in connection with a homicide. The officer located the vehicle and the suspect was taken into custody.
Alberto Cortes, who lives in West Hartford, said the concern should be how to ensure the technology isn’t abused. He called for policies to limit how long information can be kept, ensure officers have a legitimate law enforcement reason to search the system, and keep records of who accesses it. Connecticut has already taken steps in that direction with new rules governing how automated license plate reader information can be accessed, retained, and shared.
Cortes believes Flock cameras, when used properly, can be a valuable public safety tool. He emphasized the need for strong protections around their use while recognizing their value in locating stolen vehicles and people accused of serious crimes.
