Budget committee questions claimed 2,700-hour savings from Flock camera system

Committee member (S3) pressed staff over a presentation that said the city’s Flock camera system saved 2,700 man-hours and roughly $115,000, saying the figure equates to “67 and a half weeks of full time labor” and arguing it did not reflect real budget reductions.

"That's an estimate," Committee member (S3) said during the meeting. "We didn't save anything; we spent more money, we didn't save anything, but we solved crimes faster." The member said the presentation implied an annual personnel savings that, in practice, had not resulted in fewer employees.

Staff member (S5) and Staff member (S6) responded that the cameras have allowed detectives to solve more cases and have reduced the pressure to hire an additional detective, but they acknowledged the point was not presented that way to the committee. Staff offered to get the police chief to provide a written explanation of how the time was reallocated.

Several committee members requested clearer accounting of what detectives or other personnel did with the hours the Flock system claimed to save, and whether the city realized recurring budget savings or merely shifted staff time to other work. Committee member (S2) said the presentation should state "we used Flock in this many cases" rather than asserting direct causation that the cameras alone solved cases.

The committee asked staff for follow-up information from the police chief, including detail on whether the claimed hours correspond to reduced headcount, overtime savings, or a reallocation of duties. The committee did not take formal action on the item at the meeting; staff committed to provide clarification in writing.