Olympia police chief recommends suspending Flock license‑plate reader pilot; city manager moves to deactivate cameras

Interim Chief Shelby Parker told the Olympia City Council on Dec. 2 that she will recommend the city manager suspend the Olympia Police Department’s Flock automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) pilot so the city can evaluate community concerns and shifting federal risks.

"I'm recommending that the city manager consider suspending OPD's Flock pilot program," Parker said. She told council that the system—contracted in March 2024 with Department of Commerce grant funding—was adopted to help recover stolen vehicles, identify suspects in organized retail theft and improve investigative timelines, but that recent developments require a pause to preserve community trust.

Parker said the pilot runs through July 2026, cost the city $98,550 for the contract as presented, and uses 15 mounted Flock cameras placed at intersections. She described technical safeguards the department has implemented: the cameras read license plates (not faces), the vendor configuration is restrictive (the department does not participate in the vendor’s national lookup feature), data is retained 30 days unless linked to a case, every search requires a documented reason and internal audits are performed.

Parker also cited investigative outcomes tied to the pilot: since August 2024 the system has assisted in 112 arrests (including about 29 stolen‑vehicle recoveries) and she said the single largest category of Flock‑assisted arrests has been assaults and domestic violence (39 arrests). She said the system has been used in investigations ranging from property crime to homicide and cited a University of Washington review noting Olympia’s restrictive configuration.

Parker noted legal and disclosure implications after a Nov. 6 Skagit County Superior Court ruling that Flock camera records fall under Washington’s Public Records Act; she said the camera network produces roughly 4,000,000 images every 30 days and that producing an electronic 30‑day release could cost roughly $50,000 under the city's electronic records fees (5¢ per 4 images).

A rally outside the chambers interrupted the presentation, prompting the mayor to move—and the council to second—a recess to reconvene in Room 207; the council recorded a 4‑1 vote to reconvene behind closed doors and finish the briefing. After the recess, Parker restated her recommendation that the City Manager suspend the pilot while staff monitor federal and state developments.

City Manager Jay Berney told council he accepted the chief’s recommendation. "I'm accepting the chief's recommendation to suspend the flock system, and so we will do so immediately pending this discussion with council," he said; staff later told council the department can shut the cameras off within 24 hours and that public works will assist with short‑term hoods over the devices while the city arranges vendor removal.

Council members expressed support for the suspension and in many cases urged physical removal of hardware so community members see a visible change. Several council members said the risk is not only local policy but broader federal volatility that could override contractual assurances; they urged a broader community conversation about surveillance policy, external review of vendor data practices and legislative engagement at the state level.

Next steps listed by staff included immediate deactivation, short‑term covering of cameras, coordination with the vendor for equipment removal, and outreach/briefings to update the community and council as removal timelines and reviews progress.