Denver officials prioritize shielding illegal immigrants over public safety as the city council scraps a $666,000 license plate tracking system that successfully reduced auto theft by 90% at Denver International Airport.
Key Takeaways
- Denver city council voted to end a successful $666,000 contract with Flock’s license plate tracking system despite its proven effectiveness in recovering stolen vehicles and aiding in criminal investigations.
- The system had led to the recovery of 170 stolen cars, 300 arrests, and assisted in serious crime investigations including hit-and-runs and murder cases.
- Council members cited concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) potentially accessing the data to identify and deport illegal immigrants as the primary reason for terminating the contract.
- The decision comes despite the system’s demonstrated 90% reduction in auto theft at Denver International Airport and contradicts the city’s earlier plans to expand the technology to combat vehicle theft citywide.
Successful Crime-Fighting Tool Abandoned Over Immigration Politics
Denver’s city council has voted to terminate its contract with Flock, the company behind a highly effective license plate tracking system that scans approximately 2 million vehicles monthly throughout the city. The $666,000 annual agreement will not be renewed when it expires in February, despite the technology’s proven track record in combating auto theft and aiding law enforcement in serious criminal investigations. The decision marks a stark reversal from the city’s plans announced earlier this year to expand the license plate reader technology across Denver following its remarkable success at the airport.
“Under the chief’s leadership, we deployed [the license plate reader] strategy at the Denver airport for the last six months. Over the last six months, we have dropped auto thefts at DIA by 90%. That is why our plan now is to expand that capacity across the city,” said Mayor Mike Johnston.
The tracking system has been instrumental in recovering 170 stolen vehicles and facilitating 300 arrests since its implementation. It has also provided crucial evidence in more serious cases, including hit-and-runs and homicide investigations. Law enforcement officials have consistently praised the system’s effectiveness in both preventing crime and building solid cases against offenders once apprehended.
Illegal Immigration Concerns Trump Public Safety
The primary reason cited by council members for terminating the contract was concern that Immigration and Customs Enforcement might gain access to the license plate data and use it to identify and deport illegal immigrants residing in Denver. This decision reflects the Democrat-controlled council’s prioritization of protecting undocumented residents over maintaining a system that has demonstrably enhanced public safety and property protection for legal citizens and taxpayers of the city.
“We’re living in an era where just this last week, actually an executive order came out instructing the Department of Justice and the FBI to look for reasons to prosecute local elected officials and activists who they believe are quote, unquote, obstructing ICE enforcement. This kind of surveillance technology is a gift if you have that kind of ill intent, and the federal government has that ill intent right now,” said Sarah Parady, Council member.
“Councilman Kevin Flynn echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that while the technology is effective at solving crimes, concerns about potential immigration enforcement have become “greatly heightened” since President Trump’s return to office,” said Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat who initially championed the expansion of the license plate reader program, has now reversed course and supported the council’s decision to terminate the contract, citing changing “community concerns.”
Law Enforcement Loses Valuable Crime-Fighting Tool
The decision has met with disappointment from law enforcement officials who have witnessed firsthand the system’s effectiveness. Police had previously assured the public that the license plate readers would be used exclusively for tracking stolen vehicles and investigating violent crimes, with data being stored for only 30 days unless it pertained to an active investigation. Furthermore, locations for cameras were strategically selected based on crime trends rather than demographic considerations to avoid disproportionately impacting specific communities.
“This Flock has been a great tool for all of us. It is a wonderful tool not only for us but for the victims,” said Todd Erickson, Denver Police Sgt.
The council’s decision comes at a time when Denver had been making progress in combating auto theft, with a 19% decrease in vehicle thefts reported in 2023. The city had planned to expand its anti-theft initiatives, including the DenverTrack program allowing car owners to register their vehicles for GPS tracking and collaborations with car manufacturers like Kia and Hyundai to update anti-theft software. Without the license plate tracking system, Denver’s law enforcement will lose a critical tool that had proven effective in quickly identifying and recovering stolen vehicles.
