09/08/2026
Public Transparency: Carter Lake Police Department Use of Flock Safety License Plate Reader Cameras
The Carter Lake Police Department is committed to using technology responsibly, lawfully, and transparently to improve public safety. One of the tools currently used by the Department is the Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system.
We understand that the use of technology by law enforcement can raise reasonable questions from members of the public regarding privacy, data retention, access, and accountability. For that reason, we want our community to understand what these cameras do, how the information is used, how long it is retained, and what safeguards are in place to ensure appropriate use.
What Flock Cameras Do
Flock Safety cameras are Automated License Plate Readers. They automatically capture images of license plates visible from public roadways and record associated information such as the date, time, and location of the vehicle observation. Carter Lake Police Department Policy 427 specifically provides that this information is collected for official law enforcement purposes and that the technology is to be used consistently with Iowa law and the privacy rights of the public.
The cameras are not intended to be used for random tracking of citizens. Department policy specifically prohibits random vehicle tracking that is unrelated to an active investigation or other legitimate law enforcement purposes. Authorized uses include identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, locating stolen license plates, assisting in locating missing persons, and identifying vehicles associated with active warrants, suspect investigations, homeland security concerns, or stolen property.
Department members may access the system only for official law enforcement business. Officers must also complete department-approved training before accessing ALPR data, and officers are expected to verify Flock alerts through official law enforcement databases before taking enforcement action.
Data Retention and Privacy
The Carter Lake Police Department has established a limited retention period for information collected by the Flock system.
Under Department Policy 427, ALPR data is retained for a maximum of 30 days on a rolling basis unless the information is required by law or is needed for a specific case. At the end of that period, the data is automatically and permanently deleted by the Flock Safety system. The 30-day retention period applies to captured license plate images and their associated metadata.
If ALPR information becomes evidence in a criminal or civil case, is subject to discovery, or is required for an open investigation, the relevant information must be exported and preserved as evidence before its normal deletion date. Department policy also requires the retention and deletion process to be regularly audited for compliance.
The Department retains ownership and control of its ALPR data. Policy 427 further states that Flock Safety does not sell, share, or provide the Department's ALPR data to third parties outside approved law-enforcement requests. Requests from outside law-enforcement agencies must be for an official purpose, be made in writing, identify the requesting agency and requester, state the intended purpose, receive Department approval, and be documented.
Accountability and Auditing Officer Use
An important safeguard built into the system is its ability to document who accesses ALPR information.
Flock Safety's system maintains access logs recording every search, access attempt, and export, including the user, date, time, and search parameters. Access is restricted to authorized personnel for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Department policy requires these activity logs to be regularly audited by the Administration Captain or a designee. Unauthorized access, use, or sharing may result in Department discipline and could potentially result in criminal prosecution.
This means the Carter Lake Police Department has the capability to review how its officers are using the Flock system. If a question arises regarding an officer's use of the database, Department administration can review the system's activity logs to determine who accessed the system, when it was accessed, and the search parameters associated with that activity.
This auditing capability is an important part of maintaining accountability and ensuring the system is being used for legitimate law enforcement purposes rather than personal, unauthorized, or improper reasons.
Additional Department Documentation
In addition to the electronic audit trail maintained within the Flock system, the Carter Lake Police Department requires additional documentation when Flock information becomes part of an investigation.
Any time a Flock camera is used as part of an investigation, or a police case is initiated as the result of a Flock notification, the reporting officer is required to complete a Flock Data Report documenting the use of the system. That report is attached to the corresponding police case report.
This provides another layer of accountability by connecting the use of Flock technology to the official Department record associated with the investigation.
What Has Flock Done for Carter Lake?
Transparency should also include information about whether technology is actually producing meaningful public-safety results.
Department records show 29 documented Flock-related cases during 2025. Those cases involved stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, wanted persons/warrants, and a missing-person case.
In 2026, the Department's report printed August 25 identifies an additional 15 Flock-related cases, involving stolen vehicles, a stolen license plate, and warrants.
Together, the two reports document 44 Flock-related Carter Lake Police Department cases:
• 19 warrant-related cases
• 19 stolen-vehicle cases
• 5 stolen-license-plate cases
• 1 missing-person case
Of those 44 documented cases, 29 resulted in a disposition of "Cleared by Arrest." Others were resolved, referred to another agency, resulted in a citation, remained active or suspended, or had another documented disposition.
These numbers demonstrate that the system is not simply collecting information. It has been used as an investigative tool in actual cases involving stolen vehicles and license plates, wanted persons, and a missing person.
Balancing Public Safety and Privacy
Technology can be an important force multiplier for a small law enforcement agency, but its usefulness must be balanced against the public's reasonable expectation that government technology will be used responsibly.
The Carter Lake Police Department's Flock ALPR program is governed by Department policy, limited to legitimate law enforcement purposes, subject to a 30-day default data-retention period, restricted to trained and authorized personnel, and supported by electronic access logs that allow Department administration to audit officer activity.
When Flock information is used in an investigation or initiates a police case, the Department also requires the reporting officer to document that use and attach the Flock Data Report to the associated case.
Our goal is straightforward: use technology to help solve crimes, recover stolen property, locate wanted or missing persons, and protect our community while maintaining appropriate safeguards, accountability, and transparency.
The Carter Lake Police Department believes that public trust is strengthened when our community understands not only the tools we use, but also the rules and safeguards governing their use.
Carter Lake Police Department
Committed to public safety, accountability, and transparency.
