The Republican nominee to be Jefferson County’s next Sheriff, Jacob “JJ” Reach, is concerned about the widespread use of Flock cameras by law enforcement across the country.
Reach is a retired Captain of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office with 30 years of law enforcement experience serving Jefferson County.
The license plate reader (LPR) cameras have received new scrutiny across the country following recent cases of law enforcement abusing the technology.
Reach discussed the issue Wednesday on “The Rightside” with Allison Sinclair and Amie Beth Shaver, in partnership with Yellowhammer News.
“I had the opportunity to work complex felony investigations for a long time, including homicides, cold homicides. We had success in doing that, and we accomplished all that prior to having license plate readers,” Reach said. “So again, I think the issue that has being discussed is they are discussing public safety matters. Well, we have to put not allow the safety term to override taking someone’s liberty, and so that’s where I think the technology that is out there is available.”
Reach said using LPRs to track criminals is similar to an officer getting access to phone records.
“I’ve got to be able to articulate the reasoning for me to obtain that information, so I can get a search warrant,” he explained. “I can obtain that information. It can tell us the geo tracking location anything you can imagine off that cell phone right so it’s the same with the LPR readers. In my opinion we should have to obtain a search warrant that way we’re not violating someone’s rights.”
The use of Flock cameras is expected to be a hotly debated topic during the next Legislative Session in Alabama. State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) has said he’s hoping the Legislature will take up the issue.
“I have access to NCIC and the CJS, the Criminal Justice Information System, I have to have a reason to run your driver’s license,” Reach continued. “I can’t just go out and start searching you. I have to have a reason to run your tag. I have to have a reason to run a criminal history. I have to document when I run a criminal history. All of this data is recorded. It should be the same with with Flock.”
“Me personally, I believe only investigators should have access to to the LPR readers, and that way, if a search warrant is needed, you obtain a search warrant to gather the information,” he added. “Now, sometimes it’s it is convenient to be able to run a tag and it pop up, or some stolen car come through and it pop up. But convenience should not outweigh the liberty of those who have not done wrong.”
Reach will be facing off against the current Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway in the November general election.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
