Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Surveillance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Titusville approves Flock Safety purchase after police outline crime'fighting benefits; one councilor dissents
Summary
The council approved a roughly $131,055 two'year purchase of the Flock Safety system and Flock OS Elite package for license-plate reading and third-party camera integration, with a 4'to—2 vote. Police said the system aids investigations and cited local partner agencies already on the network.
Titusville, Fla.
The Titusville City Council approved the purchase of a Flock Safety camera and software system for an initial two-year term at a cost listed in the staff report as $131,055.50, with a city-cost component discussed during the presentation. Titusville Police Department officials and public-safety staff emphasized the system's investigative value and interoperability with compatible private and municipal camera feeds.
Police representatives described cases where license-plate-reader (LPR) matches and access to external cameras led to rapid arrests and recovered property, and said agencies across Brevard County have access to each other's feeds when compatible systems are shared. "It's kind of a Roku of cameras," one TPD speaker said, explaining that Flock OS organizes multiple camera systems for law enforcement use.
Vice Mayor Cole and others framed the purchase as a technology upgrade that will help investigators solve crimes more quickly; Member Stockel said policy safeguards (case-number access and documented limited-use rules) should allay privacy concerns. Member Mascoso dissented, saying she had received community feedback and was worried about both civil-liberties implications and the allocation of general-fund dollars to the purchase. During public comment, resident Kathleen O'Rourke urged the council to consider budgeting timing and to review such purchases during budget hearings rather than adding them to consent.
The city manager noted the purchase and associated budget amendment were processed through existing budget procedures. Council approved the procurement by voice vote; the clerk recorded the result as "motion carries 4 to 1," with Member Mascoso the sole dissent.
What to expect next: The police department will implement Flock OS Elite and coordinate data-use policies and public communications. Council members asked staff to confirm the integration, vendor warranty and ongoing costs as the program rolls out.
