The Washington DC Police Union is questioning how the Metropolitan Police Department uses Flock license plate reader cameras, saying the department has not established enough safeguards to prevent the technology from being misused.
The union said Thursday it identified what it described as improper use of Flock data by MPD management in July and filed misconduct complaints and a class grievance demanding the practice stop.
In a statement to WJLA, MPD said the grievance involves the use of a Flock camera in an internal affairs misconduct investigation.
“Department’s position is that the use of LPR in the misconduct investigation was appropriate,” an MPD spokesperson said. “This grievance involves a union matter, and it will be resolved through arbitration
between MPD and the DC Police Union.”
The union said MPD denied the grievance and declined to investigate the managers accused of misusing the system. The department then issued a teletype restricting department-wide access to the system, according to the union.
At issue is how much access police should have to information that can show where a vehicle has been. Flock cameras use automated technology to capture license plates and other vehicle information, but the same data could also be used to track a vehicle's movements or accessed for reasons beyond a criminal investigation.
The union's complaint is that MPD needs clearer rules and safeguards for how that information is accessed and used.
The technology has drawn criticism from privacy advocates who say the cameras can create detailed records of where people drive, even when they are not suspected of a crime. Critics have questioned how long that data is stored, who can access it and how it can be shared between law enforcement agencies.
MPD has previously said its LPR systems, including Flock cameras, have helped investigators track vehicles connected to violent crimes.
The union says the grievance is now headed to arbitration and that its misconduct complaints remain active. It is calling for greater transparency and consistent rules governing who can access Flock data and how it can be used.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why DC police union is challenging MPD use of Flock cameras
