The City of Olympia, WA, is suspending its Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera pilot program, citing significant community concerns over data collection, access, and privacy. Following a recommendation from the Interim Police Chief, the city will hood its 15 cameras to preserve public trust, which was deemed too important to risk. The two-year pilot, funded by a state grant, was intended to combat stolen vehicles and organized retail crime.
This move mirrors actions in other Washington cities like Redmond, which also paused its Flock program, and Auburn, which restricted data sharing with agencies for immigration enforcement. While acknowledging the cameras helped police “move faster,” Olympia’s police leadership affirmed its commitment to traditional investigative work and transparency, adapting its methods without the surveillance tool.