The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is suspending its contract with Flock Safety for automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras. The Sheriff’s Office still has not installed any cameras anywhere in Lane County. LCSO’s contract with Flock Safety was initiated after the Eugene Police Department and Springfield Police Department began work to install their systems.  For an ALPR system to be most effective in preventing crime and holding offenders accountable, coordination between local agencies is paramount. Without other local networks to integrate with, LCSO is looking for ways to best utilize the resources that we have available to keep our residents safe.  “We are still examining this type of technology and others in an effort to improve community and deputy safety,” said Sheriff Carl Wilkerson. “ALPRs have proven their benefit to our residents with the capture of multiple murderers over the past year.”  The Oregon legislature is expected to examine the use of ALPR technology by law enforcement agencies in the next legislative session. As decisions made at the state level will likely impact local systems and policies, it will be beneficial to receive guidance prior to making a final determination on the use of ALPR technology.  As our community continues to engage in conversation regarding this technology, the Sheriff’s Office will work with our residents and partner agencies to identify modern law enforcement tools and practices that meet our high standards of local control and privacy.