Olympia, WA Suspends Flock Safety License Plate Reader Pilot, Citing Privacy and Sanctuary City Status
Policy ID
OLY-ADM-2025-12-3
Short Description
Olympia officials suspended the city’s two-year Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) pilot program, which had begun in August 2024, on the recommendation of the interim police chief. All 15 cameras were hooded and deactivated while the city reassessed risks to privacy and data access and weighed developments at the state and federal levels, with officials citing community trust and the city’s status as a sanctuary city. The move came amid statewide scrutiny of federal immigration authorities’ access to Flock data.