Throughout northeast Lake County, people are noticing more and more cameras mounted around Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion — automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that law enforcement officials use to help solve crimes despite the opposition of some who feel they are intrusive.
Chris Sweeting, a Zion deputy police chief, said they both solve crimes and clear people who are innocent. They can narrow the search for potential perpetrators of crimes and help recover stolen vehicles, he said.
Sweeting was one of three police officers, three elected officials and an attorney who were part of a panel discussion on the multifaceted issue of ALPRs hosted by the Antmound Foundation Thursday in Waukegan, letting people know the benefits and detriments of the technology.
Anthony McIntyure, the founder and CEO of the Antmound Foundation, said the purpose of the evening was to bring a wide range of people together to give their views on the technology of ALPRs so community members have a better understanding of the cameras surrounding them.
McIntyre said he wanted a wide-ranging panel at the forum, including police officers, members of the legislative branch of local government, and an attorney involved with the judicial system.
Along with Sweeting were Waukegan Deputy Chief Craig Neil and Lt. Matthew Harmon of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, representing law enforcement, the predominant users of ALPRs in the area.
Representing municipal lawmakers were Waukegan Ald. Juan Martinez, 3rd Ward, North Chicago Ald. Michael Jackson, 1st Ward, and Ald. Anthony Coleman, 2nd Ward.
When police or fire chiefs are hired, Coleman said the job of the council members is to approve them and make sure they are the best possible people for the job. Martinez said safety is the job of all government officials.
“Above all, my biggest concern is public safety,” Martinez said. “Leaders have to be focused on that.”
The legal community was represented by Jacob Goldwater, a criminal defense attorney with Stone & Associates in Waukegan. McIntyre said he wanted all sides of the technology represented. He said he has concerns with ALPR use, particularly those made by Flock Safety.
Goldwater said license plate reading technology first surfaced about six years ago. While local police departments may work independently, Flock is a subscription service where a wide range of people can obtain access to the information, he said.
“Flock is unique,” Goldwater said. “Someone in Tampa, Florida, can know what someone is doing in Seattle. It’s a subscription service. Law enforcement in South Florida can know what’s going on in Seattle, Washington.”
While ALPRs have helped police solve crimes, McIntyre said a police officer in Wisconsin used the technology to track a private citizen. He was terminated for the abuse. Neal said an officer who uses the information improperly can be criminally charged with official misconduct.
McIntyre said he has heard concerns from people in the area about the cameras. He wanted them to learn more about their use from a variety of those who use the devices, and those who oversee the users. He was glad members of community-based organizations (CBOs) came.
“One of the key pieces of the evening was that local CBOs came into the room,” McIntyre said. “Everybody pretty much had the same concerns, those that were aware. This was an opportunity for them.”
A representative of the Legacy Foundation wanted to know how long the information was kept and how it is treated after it is collected. Sweeting said the pictures are stored for 30 days. They can only be viewed by a “sworn officer” with the permission of a supervisor.
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Wanting to see local control, a member of the public at the meeting asked what laws could be made by city councils to protect against abuses. Jackson said that is the role of the Illinois legislature. Local governments follow those laws.
Zakee Darr, the executive director of Black Lives Matter in Lake County, wanted to know what kind of oversight there is on the use of the ALPRs. Neal said procedures that are in place must be followed. Using technology as it becomes available is important to keep people safe.
“Technology is one of the ways we can make sure we are not left behind,” Neal said. “Officers are held to a high standard, and they are accountable.”