The Steamboat Springs Police Department will host a Civic Connections community event regarding flock cameras and automated license plate recognition at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Centennial Hall (124 10th St.) in downtown Steamboat Springs, according to a statement released on Thursday. 

“The goal of this event is to provide information and answer questions,” said Police Chief Mark Beckett in the statement. “We want community members to better understand how automatic license plate reader technology is used locally, what information is collected, how data is managed, and the policies that guide its use.” 

The session is intended to give residents and community members a “clear, factual, and transparent understanding” of how this tool is used locally while addressing frequently asked questions.

Flock technology, which passively logs license plates to support law enforcement investigations, has become a topic of significant interest and controversy across the United States, and more recently in the Yampa Valley. 

In Steamboat Springs, flock cameras currently capture license plate and vehicle information at critical entry points and travel corridors, according to the statement. These images and plate reads are kept for 30 days, accessible only to trained and authorized personnel. 

Comprehensive monthly audits then document all searches, both internal and external, to ensure accountability. 

“This technology helps SSPD respond faster, coordinate better with partner agencies, and keep Steamboat Springs safe,” added Beckett in the statement. “Just as important, we have strong governance and policy in place to safeguard its use.”

SSPD leaders, including Beckett and Patrol Operations Commander Greg Griffin, will explain at the event how the system works, outline departmental safeguards and show how data from automated license plate recognition can help resolve cases, ranging from stolen vehicles and felony warrants to missing persons and hit-and-runs. 

The presentation will include an overview of how the technology works and what it does and does not capture; departmental policies, including data access, retention limits, accountability protections and auditing; information on network-sharing with state agencies, as well as how custom hotlists support active local cases; and examples of real investigations where Flock alerts led to timely recoveries, arrests or suspect identifications. 

Community members are invited to attend, ask questions and speak directly with SSPD leadership.