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Police describe safeguards on Flock cameras; residents press for transparency
Summary
Chief William told the council Highland-owned Flock camera data is retained for 30 days, used only for legitimate law-enforcement purposes and logged by case; residents and some council members asked how and where data may be shared and raised privacy concerns.
Lone Peak Police Chief William described how Highland's agreement with Flock Safety governs access and retention of automated license-plate reader (ALPR) data and answered council questions about oversight and sharing.
Chief William said Highland-owned camera data is the city's property and is purged after 30 days unless retained for a documented case. "The data that is collected on the cameras that are owned by Highland City is owned by Highland City," he said, adding that officers must log each access with a case number and stated purpose. He identified permitted uses under state code as criminal investigations to apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants, locate missing or endangered persons, and locate stolen vehicles.
Council members and residents expressed concerns about data leaving Utah and the degree of third-party access. Chief William acknowledged the concerns, noted the department's transparency portal and a recent count of 27 searches in the last 30 days, and recommended monitoring pending state legislation that would add guardrails to ALPR use. He also said cameras were adjusted when first installed to avoid filming private yards and that access is documented.
Several council members said the briefing eased some concerns but urged continued public education and transparency about how often and why data is accessed.
