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Ross Council Backs Pilot Plan to Test License‑plate Cameras for Crime Response
Summary
After a presentation from the police chief and vendor Flock, council members expressed support for a small pilot (about eight automated license‑plate reader cameras) to improve vehicle‑based investigations, while asking staff to return with budget, privacy policy and interagency coordination details.
The Ross Town Council signaled support for a pilot program to deploy automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) cameras at strategic entry points to the town, after a presentation by the police chief and a technical overview from Kristin McLeod of Flock.
Chief introduced the item as a public‑safety tool the department researched after an armed robbery earlier this year; he said camera data helped identify and track a suspect vehicle in that case. Kristin McLeod described Flock’s system as focused on rear‑of‑vehicle images, motion‑activated capture, 24/7 operation, and automatic deletion of non‑accessed images after 30 days. She said law‑enforcement partners receive near‑real‑time alerts for wanted vehicles and can query a 30‑day searchable history when investigating crimes.
Councilmembers asked several questions about deterrence, camera placement, vandalism, operating costs and data governance. Chief and the vendor emphasized safeguards: searches require a stated reason and user ID (an audit trail), footage is encrypted and owner‑managed, Flock defaults to 30‑day hard deletion of images not retained as evidence, and officers can download images to department evidence systems when needed.
The chief proposed focusing a pilot on ingress/egress locations (e.g., Sir Francis Drake Boulevard approaches and Laurel Grove/Winship access points). Staff estimated several procurement and recurring‑service options (lease vs. purchase) and said a small pilot could be funded through reserves or proposed in the upcoming budget; the town manager said any pilot would require an appropriation and a formal contract.
Council members expressed general support for testing a limited pilot, while requesting that staff return with: a cost estimate and funding source, a clear policy describing permissible uses and retention, an interagency coordination plan to avoid duplicating county or neighboring city cameras, and a public‑facing transparency page or summary.
No binding appropriation was made at the meeting; council direction was for staff to proceed with development of a pilot plan and policy for future council consideration.
