Regarding the article “City cancels deal for license plate tech”:
Lots of communities around the country are trying to figure out how to keep people safe without stepping on their rights. From where I stand in law enforcement, technologies like license plate recognition (LPR) from Flock Safety prove you can do both.
LPR tools give cops quick, clear info that helps them spot cars tied to crimes, without following people around. The system snaps pictures of license plates and some basic vehicle info in public spots. It doesn’t use facial recognition, collect personal details, or track a person’s entire movement.
That difference really matters when something serious happens. Take the recent shooting close to Brown University – police used license plate tech to find and identify the suspect’s car. That tip sped up the search and helped coordinate a faster response. As someone who spent years as a detective, I know that in moments like these, every minute counts-not just for catching who did it but stopping more harm from happening.
Instead of sweeping everyone up or being invasive, LPR lets officers zero in on known dangers like stolen cars or vehicles connected to ongoing cases. If you have good rules about how long data stays around and proper oversight, this kind of tech can boost safety while still respecting privacy.
You don’t have to choose between keeping people safe and protecting their freedoms. When done right, things like Flock Safety help police watch over neighborhoods without crossing lines.
George Khoury, Retired Brockton Police Sergeant Detective
