Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Technology topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council discusses Flock camera network as a tool for policing; chief outlines costs and grants
Summary
Police chief described Flock camera capabilities and costs and said the county already provides camera coverage; council asked staff to circulate materials and consider a presentation on private/public agreements and grants for about $3,000 per camera per year.
Rolla’s police chief briefed the council on the Flock license-plate-camera network and its uses in investigations, and councilmembers asked for more information about costs, grants and privacy safeguards.
The chief described how Flock cameras capture a rear image and license plate and said the system can notify law enforcement if a queried plate or vehicle characteristic is recorded. “If we put that information into the Flock system and had it drive past where a Flock camera was, we would have immediately got notified,” the chief said, recounting prior uses with the county where camera hits helped locate suspects. The chief said images are retained for a limited time and that the system records the rear of vehicles without identifying occupants.
The chief said each camera costs about $3,000 per year and that businesses often sponsor cameras; he noted Walmart and Lowe’s have agreed to sites along Highway 63 and AT&T had expressed interest near Highway 72 and 63. The Phelps County system already covers many entrances into the city and Rolla police have access, the chief said.
Councilmembers asked what a path forward would look like. Staff suggested Flock could present to council and that the city could pursue grants or enter contracts; one member noted the city would need to be clear about ongoing operating costs if business sponsorships did not materialize. “If you’re going to put in 10 of these, it’s $30,000 a year,” a councilmember said, urging that council weigh costs and privacy concerns before committing.
Council asked staff to circulate the vendor PowerPoint and other materials and to schedule a presentation for the council to consider options and funding sources.
