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Council hears police update on SRO program and Flock camera use; privacy and search controls questioned
Summary
Police Chief Shepard briefed council on the school resource officer program and the city’s use of Flock cameras, saying the system focuses on public roadways, has assisted investigations and that searches are restricted locally; councilmembers pressed for clearer authorizations, search controls and memorandum of understanding details for the SRO position.
Chief Shepard gave an update to the Local Government and Community Services Committee on the police department’s programs, focusing on the school resource officer (SRO) arrangement and the Flock camera network.
SRO program: Chief Shepard said Officer McLaclin serves as the SRO with other officers trained as backups; the program is intended to foster community policing and school safety, and monthly reports and CAD activity logs are generated. Councilwoman Mann pressed for clearly outlined goals and responsibilities to appear in the memorandum of understanding between the police department and the schools, and for explicit protocols distinguishing criminal investigations from school discipline.
Flock cameras: Chief Shepard described the system as focused on public roadways and able to provide images (vehicle, plate, time, camera) that have helped solve crimes and recover missing persons. He stated the city’s cameras are connected to nearby jurisdictions and that data has been shared with other agencies; he reported that 582 agencies have accessed data since inception and that about 120,000 searches occur nationwide weekly. He also said the city has opted out of immigration and reproductive‑rights searches and that the local system does not permit those queries.
Council concerns: Members sought detail on search authorization controls, auditing and whether there are environmental sensors or microphone capabilities on cameras (Chief Shepard said the city’s system collects images only). Councilwoman Mann asked whether contract renegotiation options used by other jurisdictions could be applied locally to require search approvals; the chief and law director were asked to follow up with specifics.
Next steps: Committee removed routine police updates from its agenda and asked staff to return to committee in the fall if proposed changes or recommendations are developed; councilmembers asked for the SRO memorandum of understanding to include measurable goals and a clear protocol for handling criminal matters versus school discipline.
Ending: No formal policy change was adopted June 15; council requested additional documentation and potential contract/authorization language for future consideration.
