Ahead of Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting Councilmember and committee Chair Bob Kettle (District 7) released this statement following recent news coverage about technology used by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for purposes of community safety and crime prevention. These issues relate specifically to Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, SPD’s Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) public space cameras program and the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC):
First of all, I want to say that I hear and understand the concerns voiced by community members over the use of technologies by SPD to assist in fighting crime, especially amidst the stories of federal immigration accessing ALPR systems that use Flock Safety. I want to be clear on this first point: Seattle does not contract with Flock Safety, the vendor at the center of many reports of unauthorized access by federal immigration. Some who do not support this technology cite a report conducted by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights – that research was done specifically on Flock networks, the findings which should not be generally applied to Seattle since we do not contract with Flock – an important distinction. Whether or not you support the use of this type of technology by police, I want to reiterate that I believe we all have the same goal: to keep the people of Seattle safe.
On that note, there are other misconceptions that I have heard about Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology that I want to address. One is that ALPR cameras in Seattle will be put in sensitive areas such as hospitals, courts, schools, or houses of worship. The fact is that ALPR cameras are mounted on police vehicles, not on fixed posts. When patrol cars are on, ALPR is on – and cannot be turned off without turning off the in-car video system or the car itself. SPD will add cars when requested to sensitive locations, but ALPR cameras are not placed specifically at these locations by the city. Another misconception: that ALPR data can be accessed by the federal government. SPD only shares data with the federal government in matters of criminal enforcement, otherwise, a federal agency would need to subpoena the data. So far, there have been no subpoenas for Seattle’s ALPR data. Further, Public Disclosure Requests (PDRs) on ALPR information are subject to state records law.
There are also many misconceptions about SPD’s Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) public space cameras program and the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC):
1) CCTV does not deter violent crime.
This point comes primarily from a 2019 study from CUNY. However, that same report also states that results of their review “based on 40 years of evaluation research – lend support for the continued use of CCTV to prevent crime as well as reveal a greater understanding of some of the key mechanisms of effective use.” In Seattle, the success of the city’s CCTV pilot project will be evaluated by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Crime and Justice Police Lab over the next two years, including measuring reduction on violent crime. CCTV footage is specifically helpful for investigations and prosecutions of violent crimes and property crimes. When used in combination with the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC), CCTV footage reduces response times and police presence, and increases trust and safety. It can help address property crime and has always been intended to help with a variety of crimes beyond violent crime.
2) Flock Safety cameras endanger Seattleites because it shares data with DHS.
Once again, Seattle does not use Flock. In addition, Seattle does not contract with WA Department of Licensing, where previous reports showed info was being shared with the federal government.
3) Surveillance data can be accessed by DHS because the servers where the data is held are based out of state and are not protected by WA shield laws.
DHS has no access to SPD data regarding civil matters (such as immigration) unless the federal government subpoenas footage from the vendor. SPD owns this data, regardless of where it is stored. If a subpoena does occur, the City Council ordinance requests that CCTV systems are to be shut down for 60 days. These elements were built into Seattle’s CCTV and RTCC legislation for the exact reason of preventing overreach from the federal government and others.
4) Seattle Police Officers are constantly monitoring cameras at the RTCC.
Video from RTCC is used only when analysts are asked to assist in specific cases, and footage from relevant cameras is reviewed. In the last year, the RTCC has helped police successfully and more swiftly solve homicides, sex trafficking and assaults. A homicide in June 2025 in downtown Seattle was solved after RTCC staff was able to identify a suspect in videos of the incident. In October 2025, RTCC assistance helped SPD locate a sex trafficking suspect who’d been tracked to light rail. RTCC coordinated with Lynnwood PD to take the suspect into custody and was turned over to SPD. Overall, the RTCC assisted with 2,580 cases between May 20 and December 31, 2025, including solving 17 homicides and association with 947 arrests.
Ultimately, implementation of ALPR, CCTV and RTCC technology in Seattle is not a choice between public safety and personal privacy – it is a smart and responsive commitment to both. By establishing rigorous legislative guardrails such as the 60-day shutdown provision and strict limitations on data sharing, we’ve ensured that these tools remain focused on criminal enforcement while protecting our residents from the recent tyranny of federal overreach. We will continue to prioritize transparency, allowing independent evaluations to guide our path forward and ensuring that our technology serves the specific needs of our diverse Seattle communities. Our goal remains a safer Seattle where every community member feels protected and secure.
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