Flock on why public safety in Colorado isn't a zero-sum game

Douglas County, Colorado, is offering one example of how local officials can approach public safety technology, including automated license plate readers (LPRs) and Drones as First Responders (DFR), while taking residents' privacy concerns seriously.

Why it's important: Flock, a company that produces LPR technology, believes public safety isn't a zero-sum game.

• Clear rules, oversight and transparency can help communities like Douglas County use public safety technology while protecting privacy and civil liberties.

The story: Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly has been vocal about the success of LPR technology, citing arrests, stolen vehicle recoveries and ongoing criminal investigations.

But ongoing debates in Colorado mirror the larger national picture.

• Flock says supporters point to the technology's role in helping investigators identify stolen vehicles, locate suspects and generate leads in serious criminal cases.
• Critics have raised concerns about data sharing, immigration-related searches and government surveillance.

What you need to know: The company believes the question should not be whether communities can use investigative tools. It should be how those tools are governed.

Flock Safety says its technology includes multiple trust and safety protections, including:

• Default 30-day data retention limits.
• Audit logs that cannot be edited.
• Role-based access controls for law enforcement users.
• Searches that are always tied to ongoing investigations and specified with an Offense Type.
• Transparency portals and audit assistance tools.

How it's done: Unlike regular security cameras, which record video to capture context, Flock's LPR systems only capture still images to produce the clearest license plate results.

• Flock says its LPRs can capture license plates on vehicles moving up to 100 mph and as far as 75 feet away.

• The system can also categorize vehicles based on make, model, color, damage and alterations.

Worth a mention: Sheriff Weekly says LPR alerts aren't used as standalone evidence, and official misuse of LPR data in Douglas County can lead to criminal charges for offenders, including law enforcement officers.

The impact: The company estimates its technology supports investigations nationwide and helps solve more than 700,000 crimes annually.

The takeaway: Douglas County's automated LPR program with Flock is a national example of responsible use guidelines for advanced technology to improve public safety and trust.

See how modern LPR technology supports safer communities.

This content was produced by Axios Creative House in partnership with Flock Safety and was not created by Axios newsroom staff.