Las Cruces Police launch Flock transparency portal

Las Cruces Police have launched a Flock Camera Transparency Portal that gives the public access to data on how the department uses automated license plate readers. The portal, posted to the department’s Facebook page, includes usage summaries, the number of cameras in use, search counts over the last 30 days and hotlist hits over the same period.

Police Chief Jeremy Story addressed concerns about the technology in a social media post.

“As technology continues to evolve at a breakneck speed, we should all be watchful of how technology impacts our privacy,” Story said.

“A lot of the information surrounding Flock is inaccurate or unrealistic,” Story said. “If some of the things I have seen on social media were true, I would also have a problem with it.”

Lt. Peter Bradley walked the public through the system in a video demonstration, answering common questions.

“This video addresses public concerns regarding Flock automated license plate readers (ALPRs) utilized by the Las Cruces Police Department,” the department wrote. “Lieutenant Peter Bradley demonstrates the system’s functionality, emphasizing its role in community safety by identifying stolen vehicles and wanted persons. The LCPD clarifies search protocols, data retention policies, and prohibited uses, ensuring transparency and accountability.”

The portal allows anyone to see how Las Cruces Police use the cameras to “capture objective evidence without compromising on privacy,” the department said.

Hotlists generate automatic alerts for vehicles entered into the National Crime Information Center and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to Las Cruces Police.

The department retains Flock data for 30 days before it is automatically removed, Las Cruces Police said.

The portal also covers what the cameras detect, what they do not detect, the department’s acceptable use policy and what constitutes prohibited use. The portal is available on LCPD’s Transparency Page.