Little Rock Police Documents Reveal Facial Recognition Policy Despite Previous Denials

The Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) maintains policies that permit the use of facial recognition technology in specific felony investigations, according to documents obtained by the Arkansas Times, despite previous public statements indicating otherwise. The revelation comes amid growing national scrutiny of law enforcement agencies’ use of biometric surveillance technologies.

General Order 338 (G.O. 338), which governs artificial intelligence use by the LRPD and was last updated on November 20, 2024, outlines that while facial recognition is not currently approved for general use, it can be implemented with written approval from the Chief of Police. The policy specifically allows detectives to request facial recognition technology during felony investigations, provided they receive approval from the Assistant Chief of Police – Investigative Bureau or their designee.

LRPD spokesperson Mark Edwards clarified that the policy exists for “extreme cases” when “detectives have exhausted all measures,” though he also stated, “The department has never used facial recognition and does not have access to any facial-recognition technology.” This position is similar to statements from other law enforcement agencies that have later been found to have access to facial recognition capabilities through third-party vendors or partnerships.

The department’s real-time crime center, operated by private contractor Axon-Fusus, employs surveillance technology with object recognition capabilities. LRPD Sergeant Andrew Hutchison explained the system’s current functionality: “We can ask this camera to say, ‘Hey, look for a male wearing a red shirt with a backpack,'” said Hutchison. “And it can detect those articles of clothing to put us in the right time frame so that humans can actually lay eyes on it.”

The policy document, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, includes additional provisions for AI and autonomous robots, incorporating references to Isaac Asimov’s three laws of robotics. Parts of G.O. 338 appear to derive from a model AI policy created by the Daigle Law Group.

Mayor Frank Scott Jr. had previously addressed the real-time crime center’s capabilities, stating there were no “big brother issues” as it did not use facial recognition technology. The center’s FAQ page similarly states it does not employ facial recognition technology. These statements and documents offer another illustration of the tension between public transparency and law enforcement agencies’ evolving use of surveillance technologies.

Sources: Arkansas Times

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December 20, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith