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Resident urges Roselle to clarify 'freeform search' in Flock ALPR system
Summary
Longtime resident Alex Behrens asked the village to provide education and transparency about a February 2025 Flock 'freeform search' feature and AI capabilities that can search beyond plate numbers; staff pointed to a public transparency portal and audit capabilities.
At the start of public comment, Alex Behrens, who identified himself as a "long time resident of Roselle," urged the board to address emerging capabilities in automated license-plate reader (ALPR) technology used by Flock that he said go beyond plate-number searches.
Behrens said a February 2025 Flock update introduced a "freeform search" that allows free-text queries and, combined with AI features, could be used to search for clothing, age, ethnicity or other attributes. "They are capable of allowing officers and individuals with access to these systems to perform free text search as the name implies," he said, and he asked the village to host an education session so residents understand what data is used and who can access it.
In reply, a village official described Roselle's Flock transparency portal, saying residents can check whether their plate has been searched and that the village retains auditing ability to review staff searches. The official emphasized training and hiring safeguards and encouraged residents to speak with the deputy chief for follow-up.
