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Gastonia council quietly approves Flock OS camera integration; police outline plan for real-time crime center
Summary
On Dec. 17 the Gastonia City Council approved a consent-item to adopt Flock OS, a cloud-based platform for license-plate readers and other cameras. Police described a staged rollout of cameras and a planned real-time crime center, emphasizing restricted access and crime-focused searches.
The Gastonia City Council on Dec. 17 unanimously approved a contract to adopt Flock OS, a cloud-hosted video and license-plate-reader (LPR) platform the police department says will integrate existing camera feeds and new Condor cameras into a single searchable map.
Police said the software will allow officers to search vehicle make, model, color and, where available, license plates across a network of LPRs. “So right now, we have 21, Flock LPR cameras,” the police presenter said, adding the department is working with Flock on locations for roughly 22 more Condor cameras and that the Condor installs are targeted for January–February. The presenter said the broader real-time crime center (RTCC) the city envisions — integrating maps, CAD and other cameras — could be operational in midyear if funding and staffing allow: “The goal would be hopefully by July 1,” they said.
Council members questioned privacy controls, data retention and who could access the system. Officials said the platform will be role-based: routine LPR lookups will remain part of officers’ investigative toolset; the integrated RTCC maps and live feeds will be restricted to RTCC staff and selected users. The presenter said community members can register private doorbell or “Ring” cameras on a community web portal so staff can request footage when relevant to a criminal investigation.
Supporters argued the system will act as a force multiplier for a department short on personnel; skeptics asked for firm assurances on encryption, oversight and limits on automated searches. The consent-item passed as part of a 15-item package that council approved unanimously.
Next steps include finalizing the Condor camera placements, signing the Flock OS contract when hardware is in place, and coordinating IT and policy measures for secure access. City staff said they will bring specific operational and privacy policies back to council or the relevant committee as the RTCC design advances.
