Kent County sheriff’s office launches transparency portal for ALPR data

Kent County’s sheriff’s office has launched a new Flock Transparency Portal, available online at transparency.flocksafety.com/kent-county-mi-so. The portal shows the number of cameras managed by the office, total license plate reads collected, and searches conducted, along with governing policies, data retention and oversight information.

The office began using Flock in 2022 through a 20‑camera pilot and now manages 62 cameras across Kent County. Community members have asked what data is collected, who can access it, how it is shared and how privacy is protected. The portal answers those questions and lets investigators locate missing and endangered people, identify stolen vehicles, and develop investigative leads.

Access is limited to trained, authorized personnel, and searches require a documented criminal‑justice or public‑safety purpose. Images are available for 30 days unless lawfully preserved for an investigation or another legal or records requirement. In the coming weeks the sheriff’s office will review its policies and share updates addressing community concerns, including verified case results that show how the technology has supported investigations and the recovery of stolen property and funds for victims. Residents are encouraged to review the portal and continue sharing questions with the office.

Read the full story at thedailynews.cc.