SILVER SPRING, Md. (7News) — Montgomery County has officially abandoned plans to deploy a security robot in downtown Silver Spring — a program 7News first reported on last summer — after significant public backlash and concerns about government surveillance.
The robot, named Parker, was designed as a high-tech crime deterrent — a five-foot-tall, 420-pound autonomous machine equipped with 360degree cameras, license plate readers, emergency lights and sirens. County transportation officials envisioned Parker patrolling public parking garages to help deter crime and augment existing security measures.
But despite those plans, Parker never made it out of the pilot phase and was never fully deployed. Instead, county leaders said concerns raised by residents — particularly within minority communities — led officials to rethink the project.
Why the County Reversed Course
In its official statement, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) said it is no longer moving forward with the pilot program, citing what it described as a “heightened apprehension toward the government — especially among our minority population.”
Here’s the full released statement from MCDOT spokesperson Emily DeTitta:…