Police chief recommends 7–14 day retention, restricted access and monthly audits for ALPR data

Chief Jason Thode told the Committee on Ordinances that while ALPR data can be an important investigative tool for vehicle-related crimes, the department should limit retention and access to reduce privacy risks. "Most of the time you're going to get a complaint. The only concerns... are missing person cases," Thode said, adding that he generally favors a retention window between seven and 14 days.

Thode proposed restricting routine search access to a small number of supervisors—"less than six or eight supervisors"—rather than distributing access broadly to patrol officers. He recommended monthly internal audits by the Professional Standards unit and requiring officers to provide a narrative justification for each ALPR search, saying that change would make auditing "a lot easier." The chief also said the system is suspended now and he would not reactivate it until public input, contract language and policy safeguards are in place.