Pocatello council approves Flock license-plate readers after debate over privacy and oversight

The Pocatello City Council on a motion approved a contract with Flock Group Inc. to install automated license-plate reader (LPR) cameras, authorizing a sole-source procurement and the mayor’s signature on pertinent documents subject to legal review.

Council member Mangum moved to approve the Flock Group license-plate recognition services agreement; Council member Lyric seconded the motion. During the roll call the motion carried with multiple yes votes and a recorded no from Council member Paulson.

The vote followed more than 45 minutes of discussion from council members, the police department and the city attorney about how images and plate reads would be stored, who may access them and what oversight would be in place.

Zach Barcheith, Police Department, described how the system and department policies would be implemented if the contract is approved. “Before anything’s turned on and ready to go, we have policy that would be set in place,” Barcheith said, adding that the department intends to assign…