Police and council discuss license-plate‑reading ‘Flock’ cameras, public‑records implications
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Summary
Police Chief Mike Smith briefed council on 'Flock' license-plate-reader cameras and recent court findings that such camera records are subject to public disclosure; council members cautioned about retention and prompt compliance with records requests.
Goldendale’s police department and council discussed the city’s use of license‑plate‑reading cameras and obligations under public‑records law.
Police Chief Mike Smith said recent jurisprudence places camera records within public disclosure rules and emphasized the department’s approach: “It's the same thing if you go over a toll bridge… It's reading your license plate,” he said, adding that the department treats the camera material like other public records.
A council member cited an Association of Washington Cities training and a case where a small city settled after footage or records had been erased before being produced in response to a public‑records request. That council member warned that retention practices must be robust: if records are requested and data already purged, that can lead to liability.
Council and staff agreed that prompt compliance with public‑records requests is essential, and that the city will ensure the police department’s public‑disclosure process and retention schedules are followed when handling camera records.