Clay, the Police Commission liaison, told the Eugene Police Auditor Review Board that the commission has been focused on automated license-plate readers and voted to adopt a department policy addressing use and data protections. “We talked, mostly … about automatic license plate readers,” Clay said, describing months of public comment that prompted the commission to review policy language meant to protect data and limit sharing to law-enforcement purposes.

Clay said the commission voted in favor of the policy so it would be in place while the community and city review broader questions, including ownership and contract terms. “We voted in favor of that policy to enact it, and then we will revisit it when we know more about the usage of that technology in the police department,” Clay said.

A board member reported that at the Oct. 8 City Council meeting the council directed the city manager to “hold off” on automated license-plate reader use and asked the manager to stop use of existing devices while the community review proceeds; the member said the manager announced a 24-hour pause at the council meeting. The board discussion noted the pause likely requires contract review and that the commission and police department will monitor how the pause and any contract issues are handled.

Board members framed the issue as two separate questions: operational policy for Eugene Police Department officers and a broader community conversation about ownership, deployment and oversight of cameras. Clay and other participants said the police commission’s policy focuses on data handling and limits on sharing.

Board members encouraged residents and other stakeholders to review the commission’s meeting record for more detail and said the commission and auditor’s office will revisit the topic as contract and operational details become clearer.

The board did not take a formal vote on the matter at this meeting; the discussion was an informational report from the Police Commission liaison.