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Residents urge end to Flock ALPR use and press for detention‑center moratorium during Renton public comment
Summary
Multiple residents told the Renton City Council they want the city to cancel its contract with Flock (ALPR cameras) and extend a moratorium on detention centers, citing privacy, cross‑jurisdictional access concerns and reported incidents at the Northwest Detention Center.
Dozens of residents used the public‑comment period at Renton’s May council meeting to press the council to end the city’s use of automated license‑plate readers supplied by the company Flock and to extend a moratorium on detention facilities.
Several speakers framed their comments as privacy and civil‑liberties concerns. “I understand again an emotional argument being made but I can’t do all the homework for you and three minutes simply isn’t enough time,” said Gabrielle Weidling, a Renton resident who urged the council not only to pause but to end the city’s contract with Flock and cited reporting that company sales staff accessed sensitive camera feeds in an Atlanta suburb to demonstrate the product. “I find that really abhorrent,” Weidling said.
Other commenters asked pointed operational and legal questions about who may search ALPR records. Leslie Jensen, who said she lives in East Renton Highlands, asked whether Renton Police Department officers must have a case number and supervisor approval before running a search and whether out‑of‑state agencies or departments with different laws could access Renton’s camera data. “Does this mean that any RPD officer who wants to search Flock has to have this information and a supervisor’s approval before they can do a search? Or can they search at will at any time?” Jensen asked.
Speakers also linked the surveillance technology debate to broader community concerns. Gabriel Diaz said residents need clearer explanations when council votes are contentious and urged action on a detention‑center moratorium; he cited reporting that the GEO Group’s Northwest Detention Center had 229 reports of ****** assault, with 19 of those reports substantiated. Diaz said those figures underscore the need for a local moratorium on detention facilities.
The council did not take formal action on ALPR usage or the statewide detention moratorium at the meeting; the public comments were recorded and council members encouraged residents to follow up individually with members or staff. Mayor (presiding officer) and council members acknowledged the remarks and noted opportunities for further discussion in committee or through staff reports.
Next steps: residents asking for policy changes can request formal agenda items or follow up with individual council members; any change to contracts or data‑access practices would require staff analysis and a council vote.
