Siloam Springs Police Address Public Concerns Over License Plate Readers

Siloam Springs, Arkansas police leadership recently addressed community concerns regarding the use of Flock Safety license plate reader (ALPR) cameras within the city. Interim Police Chief Derek Spicer and interim Deputy Chief Chase Fine presented information on the cameras' deployment and function during a city Board of Directors meeting. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that this presentation aimed to clarify how the police department utilizes its ALPRs.

Drivers in Siloam Springs should be aware that 12 Flock cameras have been operational since early 2025. Of these, seven are license plate readers directly used by the police department. These ALPRs are strategically placed in high-traffic areas to assist with specific investigations.

How are Siloam Springs' ALPRs being used?

The Siloam Springs Police Department uses the ALPR cameras for several purposes:

• Locating stolen vehicles.
• Aiding in criminal investigations.
• Searching for missing persons.

Chief Spicer cited an instance where Flock cameras helped locate two missing juveniles during the Dogwood Festival in April. The initial contract for these cameras was approved on December 17, 2024, and was renewed for 24 months. The current cost for the system is $57,000.

Not all Flock cameras in Siloam Springs are owned by the police department. Flock Safety sells cameras to private citizens and businesses, in addition to law enforcement agencies. This means some ALPRs you encounter might be privately owned. For more details on how these systems operate, you can visit our /learn section.

What about data privacy and access?

Residents raised questions about data privacy and who can access the information collected by the ALPRs. Resident Johnny Wilhite claimed Flock sold resident data without local authorization, a claim the police department addressed. The Siloam Springs Police Department's policy explicitly states that Flock Safety cannot access the department's camera data.

According to information from Flock Safety, local agencies control data access, and searches are logged for review. Data is automatically deleted after a set time, often seven days, depending on local law. Director Betsy Blair-Finn inquired whether outside law enforcement agencies need to request data directly from the Siloam Springs Police Department, and Chief Spicer confirmed this process.

Resident Carlson Wakefield brought up a case where a license plate misidentification led to an arrest and injury in Toledo, Ohio, highlighting potential concerns with ALPR accuracy. However, Director David Allen noted that no Siloam Springs police officer has misused the system.

As of the recent Board of Directors meeting, there has been no discussion among city officials about discontinuing the use of these cameras in Siloam Springs. The police department continues to utilize them for public safety efforts.