HILLSBORO, Ore. (KPTV) - Washington County Sheriff Caprice Massey addressed community concerns about Flock cameras during Tuesday night's commissioners meeting, assuring residents the surveillance technology is not being used for immigration enforcement.
Sheriff Massey detailed how the sheriff's office uses the cameras to fight organized retail crime and emphasized that the department does not share data with federal immigration authorities.
She pushed back against fears that federal officers could access data from the cameras, including license plate information, for immigration enforcement purposes.
"When used ethically and transparently, technology strengthens public safety and trust," Massey said. "At no time do we share data with ICE or Border Patrol. The sheriff's office's use of cameras is a focused, accountable and transparent effort to address organized retail crime and protect our community."
Massey said they received seven Flock cameras last year through a state grant. The grant was a collaborative effort between the District Attorney's Office and Washington County law enforcement agencies.
"...Understanding the profound impact organized retail theft and crime has had on the livability of Washington County was the motivation of requesting this grant funding," she said. "These cameras are not surveillance tools for broad monitoring. They are strategically deployed to investigate and deter property and theft related crimes."
Tuesday's presentation comes as pressure mounts statewide to turn off Flock cameras. As FOX 12 previously reported, concerns around cross jurisdiction sharing and legal challenges based around the 4th Amendment search and seizure protections have led to some communities rolling back their programs.
Eugene and Springfield launched a program at the start of this year, but turned off all the cameras last month after pushback.
Commissioner Pam Treece acknowledged the concerns during the meeting.
"There is just an extreme level of concern in our community about surveillance and how surveillance is being handled," she said. "I think the term flock ... is something that has come to mean a tool that ICE employs for surveillance. I think it's very important that we understand how ICE might use that in definition and how we might use that."
The worries stem in part from the ACLU of Oregon, which said in a statement that Flock cameras "raise serious questions about our state and federal constitutional rights to be free from unreasonable searches that invade our privacy."
"The ACLU of Oregon and many immigrant rights and privacy organizations urge all Cities and Counties including Washington County with Flock contracts to follow the lead of Woodburn, do the right thing and turn off their cameras in order to comply with our state sanctuary law and protect all Oregonians from the extreme and hateful acts of Trump and federal law enforcement,"
a spokesperson told FOX 12 in an email.
Massey also acknowledged the community's apprehension but defended the sheriff's office's use.
"Nervousness and fear are legitimate and valid," she said. "We have a storied history of utilizing technology responsibly and in a way that honors our community's privacy and their rights."
Tuesday's meeting was the beginning of ongoing discussions about the camera program. Massey plans to give a more detailed presentation about the Flock cameras in the coming months. The sheriff and district attorney are scheduled to meet with the ACLU next week to discuss their concerns about the technology.