Patrick Barry
Role at the time: Carver County, Minnesota, chief deputy sheriff and candidate for sheriff
Statement summary
Patrick Barry said license plate readers can help solve crimes but that he does not support deploying Flock cameras as designed without stronger safeguards and community input. He listed conditions for any future use, including data limits, audits and public reporting.
“Automated license plate readers can help solve crimes, but public safety cannot come at the expense of privacy and public trust. I do not support deploying Flock cameras as designed without stronger safeguards and community input. Any future consideration should include a clear public-safety need, cost-benefit analysis, strict limits on data retention and access, prohibitions on improper sharing or tracking, regular audits, and transparent public reporting. Because many communities contract with the Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services, local elected officials and residents should also have a voice. Technology should serve the community while protecting constitutional rights and individual privacy.”
Sun Patriot candidate questionnaire for the 2026 Carver County, Minnesota, sheriff race, publishing both candidates' unedited written answers.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Barry says the readers can help solve crimes but that he does not support deploying Flock cameras as designed without stronger safeguards and community input. He lists conditions for any future use, so Mixed or conditional fits rather than Condemned.