In a press release issued at 12:08 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, the city of Cottonwood announced it is suspending use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers, effective immediately.
In the statement posted to social media, the city of Cottonwood and the Cottonwood Police Department said they “respect community opinions, including those that have been shared in support or opposition of Flock license plate readers. We prioritize public trust and recognize the importance of addressing community concerns openly and transparently.”
Following discussions between Cottonwood City Manager Mario Cifuentez II and Chief of Police Brian Freudenthal “regarding the level of discord the license plate reader issue is generating within our community, it has been determined that it would be best to suspend the use of this technology at this time.
“The suspension has taken effect immediately, and will continue until our City Council can make an informed decision on the appropriate use of this technology in Cottonwood.”
The Cottonwood City Council has scheduled a work session regarding Flock license plate readers Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Riverfront facility’s Cottonwood Council Chambers and the Cottonwood Police Department said it is working to gather all relevant information for that discussion.
“We are striving for a comprehensive and transparent presentation that addresses all the concerns we have heard,” the city said. “For now, Flock has been notified of the suspension and license plate readers within the city are deactivated. The Police Department may physically cover the cameras as an additional step, but they have already stopped operating.”
“The city of Cottonwood and the Cottonwood Police Department appreciate the community’s engagement and remain committed to maintaining public trust,” the statement concluded.
