At a Thursday City Hall meeting, Syracuse police outlined a request to install the remaining seven license‑plate readers needed to finish the department’s 26‑camera Axon system, according to CNY Central. Nineteen readers have already been placed, and the seven pending sites sit in New York State Department of Transportation rights‑of‑way, which require additional approvals before installation.
Deputy Chief Jason Tom explained that the cameras capture license plates as vehicles pass, allowing investigators to search for a specific plate’s location. He said the technology has already helped locate stolen vehicles and was used in a July homicide investigation, underscoring its utility for serious crimes.
However, councilors raised concerns about who can access the collected data and how quickly potential misuse could be detected. Tom noted that any search must be tied to a legitimate investigation and include a report number, but he acknowledged that a fabricated report number could still be entered. Plate records are generally deleted after 30 days unless preserved as evidence, and officers’ search histories remain available even after the underlying records are removed.
To address privacy worries, the department conducts quarterly internal audits of all searches. Tom said the first audit is currently underway and will help determine whether more frequent reviews are needed. Councilors questioned whether a three‑month review cycle might allow improper tracking to continue before it is discovered, with one councilor warning that harm could already have occurred by the time an audit identifies misuse.
Outside agencies that request data must submit a formal written request that meets department policy; if approved, the police provide only the specific information requested rather than granting direct system access. This change follows earlier concerns that the previous provider, Flock Safety, allowed outside agencies broader access to collected information.
Councilors also asked for statistics on how the license‑plate readers have contributed to solving crimes. Tom cited the July homicide case but said a comprehensive annual report is still being compiled.
What’s next: The police department plans to seek the necessary approvals for the seven remaining readers and will complete its first quarterly audit in the coming weeks. Councilors intend to review the audit findings and consider whether more frequent oversight or additional safeguards are warranted before the system is fully operational.
Sources: cnycentral.com
