Council and staff push back on local news report, say Newburgh’s Flock cameras do not have shot‑spotter capabilities

Council members and public-safety staff on March 25 addressed community concerns about Flock camera technology after flyers and a local television report described capabilities the town does not have. A clerk/assistant and police representatives said the Channel 14 report misstated features such as shot‑spotter or gunshot‑detection capabilities for the cameras installed in the town.

At the meeting a staff member noted the town has two Flock cameras and described their primary uses: locating stolen vehicles, aiding felony-warrant investigations and assisting hit‑and‑run identification. "What was reported Sunday night on Channel 14 is not the capabilities here in town," a staff speaker said, and the police representative added the town’s cameras are not being used to conduct continuous, targeted surveillance of residents.

Council discussed recent flyers left on town-hall doors and the public visibility of the issue; staff said the flyers and some social-media posts inflated the cameras’ technical features. The town encouraged residents to direct technical questions to the police department and said it will provide clarification about what is and is not recorded by the camera system.

The meeting did not include a policy vote about the cameras; staff emphasized that the devices are operated for investigative purposes and that internal policies govern access and use. Council asked staff to continue monitoring public concerns and to provide accurate information to the public and the media.