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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">September 16, 2026</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Public Information Office <br />Columbia Police Department <br />City of Columbia <br />573.874.7652 <br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police Department supports statewide safeguards for Automated License Plate Reader technology</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Police Department supports Governor Mike Kehoe’s Executive Order 26-18 establishing statewide safeguards for the use of Automated License Plate Reader technology by law enforcement agencies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ALPR technology has become an important investigative and public safety tool for CPD and law enforcement agencies across Missouri. In our community, it has and continues to help officers identify vehicles associated with violent crimes, develop specific investigative leads, locate missing or endangered persons and locate stolen vehicles. At the same time, the value of this technology depends on the public having confidence that it is being used for legitimate law enforcement purposes and with appropriate safeguards.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following an initial review of the executive order, CPD determined that its current ALPR policies, procedures, system settings and practices already comply with the standards outlined in the order, with the exception of the newly required vendor compliance certification. CPD discussed that requirement today and is working to obtain the necessary written certification. As a reminder to our community:</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CPD already complies with the requirement to permanently delete data after 30 days that does not have evidentiary value in a criminal case.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">All searches record the specific user’s identity.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Users are required to document a case number or CAD number for all searches.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Users are required to document a criminal offense type. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Current contracts already </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">prohibit vendors from accessing, acquiring, selling, sharing, commercializing, or leveraging data for any non-law enforcement purpose.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CPD does not utilize any type of facial recognition technology. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CPD already utilizes the audit capabilities in the system, and CPD Professional Standards produces a quarterly audit report. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only select personnel can create hotlists.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Any suspected misuse of ALPR systems is referred to Internal Affairs for investigation.</span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The department will make any policy, training or system changes necessary to comply with the order and with forthcoming guidance from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Governor’s executive order establishes clear expectations regarding data retention, authorized use, search documentation, vendor access, auditing and accountability. CPD supports establishing consistent statewide standards that preserve legitimate law enforcement access to this technology while protecting individual privacy and preventing misuse.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Technology can make us more effective, but with that capability comes a responsibility to use it appropriately and transparently," Police Chief Jill Schlude said. "We support reasonable safeguards that protect the privacy and constitutional rights of the public while allowing law enforcement to continue using ALPR technology to investigate crimes, recover stolen vehicles and help locate people who may be in danger. Those objectives are not mutually exclusive."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CPD also welcomes the Governor’s direction for the Department of Public Safety to work with Missouri law enforcement organizations, prosecutors and other stakeholders toward a permanent legislative framework. A uniform statewide standard provides clearer expectations for law enforcement agencies, technology vendors and the public.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"As a professional police department, our responsibility is both to keep people safe and to safeguard the rights of the people we serve," Schlude said. "We believe ALPR technology can continue to be an effective public safety tool within a strong framework of accountability, transparency and appropriate oversight."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CPD will continue to evaluate its practices as additional guidance is issued by the Missouri Department of Public Safety and as the Missouri General Assembly considers permanent legislation governing the use of ALPR technology.</span></p></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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