Listening on Both Sides: My Visit with the Mammoth Lakes Police Department

Last week I briefly sat down with the Mammoth Lakes Police Department for a great conversation about the issues they’re facing day to day. It was a good reminder of how much our officers juggle in a small mountain town, and how much I still have to learn.

One topic that came up, and one I know is on a lot of residents’ minds, is automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), aka “Flock cameras.” I learned from the police that we do in fact have Flock cameras in town, though there are very few of them. I also learned that, in addition to the cameras, the town has contracted with Flock for a sound/decibel-based gunshot detection sensor, which is placed near our schools. I can see from the police how these tools can support public safety, but I’m also hearing real concerns from residents about privacy and how that data is used and stored. Both sides deserve to be heard.

I don’t have all the answers yet, but I want to be upfront about how I’m approaching this: I plan to dig into the ALPR issue much more over the coming weeks, talking to law enforcement, looking at other towns’ policies, and listening to community members directly.

My starting position is simple: I want to strongly support our Police Department and the tough job they do, while staying just as committed to protecting the rights and privacy concerns of the people who live here. Those two things aren’t in conflict, good policy should be able to hold both.

More to come as I learn more. If you have thoughts on this, I want to hear them.

-Lakota