Chicago Police Audit Access to Outside License Plate Reader Systems
The department restricts access to specific job duties and proposes monthly reviews of searches.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Chicago police officers now have restricted access to license plate reader systems owned by other law enforcement agencies. The department launched an audit to determine if officers misused this external data. This review coincides with immediate policy changes and proposed new rules for accessing the technology.
The Chicago Police Department immediately limited access to outside systems. Only officers whose position and job duties require the data can now use it. Each of the department's five bureaus must designate a supervisor to oversee use. This oversight covers both department-owned systems and those owned by outside agencies.
Proposed changes include making login credentials non-transferable. Only one department member can use a specific set of login credentials. Officers must document a legitimate law enforcement purpose for every query. The Office of Public Safety Administration will process requests for access to outside systems. Monthly audits of searches will also be conducted.
The proposal outlines penalties for violations of the directive. Penalties range from suspension from using the search systems to referral for prosecution. The department did not state what initiated the audit or when it will conclude. In an earlier statement, the department said the technology plays a vital role in homicide, shooting, and missing persons cases.
The Chicago Police Department joins other local agencies investigating possible abuses of license plate reader technology. Public outcry against surveillance company Flock Safety has driven these inquiries. A former Joliet police lieutenant faces felony charges for alleged misuse of Flock technology earlier this month. This is the third known case this year involving a Will County officer accused of misusing the database.
Officers from Itasca, West Chicago, Prairie Grove, and Kenosha County, Wisconsin, also face felony charges for alleged misuse. The Will County sheriff's office and Channahon Police Department suspended officers pending investigations. On November 12, the Will County Board will consider an ordinance to ban automated license plate reader cameras on county property.
The Chicago Police Department has opened a draft of the new policy for public comment. Commenting closes on November 12. This is the same day the Will County Board meets. The department will review the feedback to guide future revisions before finalizing the directives. Mayor Brandon Johnson's office declined to comment on the matter.
