Terre Haute police detail their 30 license-plate cameras — and say ICE data-sharing is off, for now

What happened

Police Chief Kevin Barrett told the council Terre Haute has deployed 30 license-plate reading cameras since 2024, placed at major routes into and out of the city and near schools. Camera count, 4:56 He said camera images are automatically purged after 30 days unless they're preserved as part of a criminal investigation. Purge policy, 5:58 When Councilperson Amanda Thompson asked whether the department shares this data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials said that sharing is currently turned off, but described any future cooperation as a case-by-case decision — for example, working with another agency to track down "a serious violent felon." Thompson asks about ICE sharing, 37:18 Case-by-case answer, 37:36 The Flock Safety representative also confirmed the system has two built-in filters blocking searches tied to immigration status and to reproductive health care, put in place partly at the department's request and partly by state law. Immigration and reproductive-care filters confirmed, 41:47

Who it affects

Anyone driving on a major Terre Haute roadway is likely to pass one of these cameras, and Chief Barrett said the department is now looking at adding more near business districts and other parks. Chief on expansion plans, 40:36

The outcome

This was a staff and vendor presentation followed by council questions — not a vote, and no ordinance was on the table. Q&A opens, no vote taken, 34:47

Sources

Also known as: Flock cameras · Flock Safety · license plate readers · LPR cameras · police surveillance cameras Terre Haute · ICE data sharing Terre Haute police · reproductive health search block · THPD flock cameras