BREVARD, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Brevard police have withdrawn a proposal to install three automatic license plate reader cameras after residents raised concerns about privacy and surveillance.
The Brevard Police Department introduced the proposal this summer during a series of Public Safety Committee meetings. In August, the committee recommended that city staff hold a public information session before the proposal went to the full City Council.
About 60 residents attended the Sept. 1 information and listening session at the Mary C. Jenkins Community Center. Others shared their views through emails, phone calls and public comments.
At the start of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Police Chief Christy Wentzell withdrew the proposal.
“Public trust is something we have to earn, and listening is a big part of that,” Wentzell said. “We asked our community to come out, learn about the proposal, and tell us what they think, and they did.”
Wentzell said she continues to believe automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, can be a useful investigative tool. But after hearing from residents, she decided not to move forward with the cameras.
The cameras were initially planned as part of a larger equipment purchase as the department upgrades its body cameras and Tasers. The proposed system would have used Axon-brand ALPR cameras.
In preparation for the public discussion, the city created a webpage with frequently asked questions, the department’s proposed ALPR policy and the Axon contract.
During the Sept. 1 meeting, residents questioned the use of the cameras, particularly their potential impact on privacy and surveillance. Some also expressed concerns about the role of large technology companies in small-town policing.
Following the meeting, the city posted Wentzell’s presentation, an audio recording of the session and answers to questions raised during public comment.
The ALPR proposal had been listed as new business on Tuesday’s council agenda. Wentzell and City Manager Wilson Hooper recommended removing it from the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
Councilman Aaron Baker, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, praised the department’s handling of the public process.
“I’m really proud of the transparent process we undertook,” Baker said, commending the department for its commitment to community-based policing.
Councilman Dean Lytle, vice chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said the discussion went beyond the question of whether Brevard should install three cameras.
“In some ways the discussion was about more than just three cameras in Brevard,” Lytle said. “This is one place where people felt they could make their voices heard.”
Lytle called Wentzell’s decision to withdraw the proposal “a demonstration of leadership.”
Wentzell said the department would follow the same public information and engagement process if it considers a similar proposal in the future.
“Building trust within the community,” she said, “is more important to me than winning the approval of technology.”