Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department published an opinion piece titled “Public safety and privacy: Pa. must protect both” in The Standard-Journal yesterday.
The article discusses the balance between individual privacy and public safety, a conversation renewed by on the onset of Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers (ALPRs).
“We understand that protecting communities and safeguarding constitutional rights are not competing responsibilities. They are fundamental obligations of professional policing,” Chief Molloy, who is currently serving as President of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, wrote. “ALPRs are valuable investigative tools. They capture license plate information and associated vehicle data, helping investigators identify vehicles potentially connected to violent crimes, stolen vehicles, missing persons, and other threats to public safety.”
The story continues:
For departments confronting staffing shortages, complex investigations, and growing demands for service, this technology provides capabilities that would otherwise require substantial personnel and resources. It can also help connect investigations across jurisdictional boundaries.
Consider a missing child, a violent offender fleeing a crime scene, or a vehicle connected to a serious investigation. Timely information can mean the difference between developing a critical lead and losing an investigative opportunity.
Chief Molloy argues that “Pennsylvania needs a consistent statewide framework governing ALPR technology”, noting that the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association presented its perspective before the House Judiciary and Transportation Committees in September.
The story concludes by stating that the goals of personal freedom and public safety “are compatible.”
“The question before Pennsylvania is not whether to choose privacy or public safety. It is how to protect both”, Chief Molloy wrote.
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