The City of Thornton recently received a complaint regarding a police officer’s use of the Flock Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system. The complaint was submitted by a representative of a group calling itself “Thornton for All.” It alleged misuse of the system by a specific Thornton Police Officer. The primary focus of the complaint was the volume of searches conducted.

I directed an investigation, as I would for any formal complaint. This particular complaint received significant public attention across social media as well as some local news outlets. For this reason, I am sharing our findings with the community to provide clarity and context.

The data provided with the complaint was reviewed but dismissed for purposes of this audit due to unreliability. When evaluating this third-party website data, it was clear the issues articulated in the website’s disclaimer were significant. Instead, our audit focused on internal system records of actual usage by this officer.

The actual data revealed this officer performed 10,318 searches in the system during this timeframe, not the 19,194 searches alleged in the complaint. Our review confirmed the officer’s access to the system was consistent with the governing TPD ALPR policy at the time. His system use was supported by legitimate law enforcement and public safety objectives. There was no evidence to support any allegation of misuse.

It was determined during our investigation that this officer routinely reviews the state’s Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC) list of active stolen vehicles. His practice is to identify and prioritize vehicles on this list associated with violent crime. He then utilizes the department’s ALPR system to determine whether these vehicles have recently been captured by local ALPR cameras. If so, he shares relevant details with other officers in attempt to locate the vehicle and prevent further crime.

This officer’s dedication to public safety objectives, as well as his tenacity in locating vehicles associated with victimizing members of our Thornton community, is clearly evident.

When unverified and inaccurate information circulates, this can negatively shape public perception and damage valuable community trust. I am sharing these findings to provide necessary detail and context, as well as to ensure ongoing public discussion is grounded in fact.

I am committed to ensuring law enforcement technology is used responsibly in accordance with department policy. This includes maintaining clear oversight and providing transparency in how we use these essential tools. The Thornton Police Department’s mission will always be grounded in public safety. I couldn’t be more proud of the people who serve our community in pursuit of this mission.

Related Documents:

• Formal Response to Complaint (Thornton Police Department Audit Findings)