The Sparks, Nevada Police Department is moving forward with a federal grant-funded facial recognition project officials say will help investigators identify suspects in retail theft cases, but which is drawing scrutiny because of its regional structure, use of police image databases, and a recent Reno wrongful arrest lawsuit involving similar technology.
The Sparks City Council approved acceptance of a $16,172.36 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance and administered by the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Assistance, which received a $2.1 million block grant from DoJ.
The project is intended to support facial recognition investigative tools, contractual services, and coordination among the Sparks Police Department, Reno Police Department, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office through a regional Real-Time Information Center…