The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has launched a public transparency portal detailing its use of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, the latest step in the agency’s response to citizen questions about the technology.

• Sheriff Eric Aden announced the portal in a video statement, saying the move reflects the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

“Our goal is to protect our community while being fully transparent about the tools we use,” Aden said. “This portal gives citizens direct access to information about how our license plate reader technology works, how it’s monitored, and the safeguards in place to ensure it is used appropriately.”

The launch follows discussion at the Jan. 6 Board of County Commissioners meeting, where Chairman Trey Goodwin said he had received numerous inquiries from residents about cameras appearing on local roadways. The sheriff’s office subsequently released a FAQ document and patrol case data showing the cameras had assisted in 171 incidents since February 2022.

The transparency portal, accessible through the sheriff’s office website, provides documentation on usage policies, audit logs showing when and why data is accessed, information on which agencies may access data, camera capabilities and data retention policies.

In his video statement, Aden addressed some of the concerns raised about the technology.

• “We know there can be questions or misinformation out there about the cameras or privacy concerns,” Aden said. “That’s exactly why we activated this transparency portal, which allows you to see the uses, policies, how the system works, and key statistics on its application.”

Aden emphasized what the cameras do and do not do. The systems capture still images of the exterior of vehicles on public roadways, reading license plates and noting details like make, model and color. He said the cameras should not be confused with school zone or red light cameras that issue citations.

“Your Sheriff’s Office does not use LPRs or license plate reader technology for this purpose, and traffic tickets are written by deputies in person,” Aden said.

Data is stored for 30 days and used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes, according to the sheriff’s office.

Aden cited the program’s results, noting the technology has helped solve homicides and kidnappings, recover missing and endangered persons, locate stolen vehicles and apprehend fugitives.

• “We have hundreds of success stories over the last four years,” Aden said. “Just last night, we recovered another stolen vehicle and apprehended a suspect that had previously fled from a municipality twice in recent days with the assistance of this Flock system.”

The sheriff’s office has deployed 80 Flock Safety cameras throughout the county, including 28 on county-maintained roadways. The agency opted not to purchase mobile units for patrol vehicles to save costs. Sheriff Aden first announced the adoption of the technology in February 2022.

“Transparency builds trust, and we’re dedicated to earning yours every day,” Aden said.The portal and the agency’s general order outlining guidelines, training and evidence retention policies are available at the sheriff’s office website.