ALPR Technology: Balancing Public Safety, Privacy & Accountability

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, PORAC President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Dan Haley, Chief Legal Officer at Flock Safety, and retired San Diego Police Captain Jeff Jordan to discuss one of the fastest-growing and most debated public safety technologies in modern policing: Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems.

As California lawmakers continue debating new restrictions and privacy standards surrounding ALPR use, this conversation breaks down what the technology does — and just as importantly — what it does not do. The discussion explores how ALPR systems support investigations, recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, identify suspects, and create investigative leads for agencies facing staffing shortages — all while operating under constitutional standards, retention policies, audit logs, and growing accountability measures.

Guests also address common misconceptions around surveillance concerns, explain California’s evolving legislative framework, and discuss how transparency, privacy safeguards, and responsible implementation can coexist with effective public safety strategies.

As technology continues to shape the future of policing, this episode explores how agencies can responsibly leverage innovation while maintaining public trust.

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Flock Safey: https://www.flocksafety.com/

Brian Marvel

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Ben Therriault

Twitter: https://x.com/BenTherriault

LinkedIn: / btherriault