Steve Stovall

And our interviews are also available at any time.

Like this past week's special episode, FreePod news director Jim Yeager spoke with Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall and privacy advocate Dorthea Salo to put together a special FreePod Investigates story on automated license plate readers, or ALPRs.

These devices, probably better known by the brand name Flock, have been causing quite the stir across the country, and Yeager provides context about the debate specific to Northwest Illinois.

You can find that special report, along with any of our previous interviews, on our website or anywhere you get your podcasts.

State Police say the cameras can assist investigations involving missing people, AMBER Alerts, and vehicles connected to serious crimes.

In Stephenson County, Sheriff Steve Stovall says his office currently operates 14 ALPR cameras using a combination of Flock and Motorola's Vigilant technology.

He says the county began putting the system into operation around 2023.

We find them as a very, uh, very important investigative tool these days.