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Commissioners defend Flock license‑plate readers after renewed criticism
Summary
Commissioners and staff discussed recent media criticism of the town’s Flock license‑plate reader system and defended its use, saying the system helped alert officers to a stolen vehicle and a missing person; officials noted state restrictions on data sharing and encouraged public education.
Commissioners and public‑safety staff discussed community concerns and media coverage of the Flock license‑plate reader system during the meeting.
A commissioner noted that a stolen vehicle that had been involved in a shooting was later identified after it alerted on an LPR located on a town road, and that the town received a missing‑person alert from Flock that led to locating an elderly person with dementia. "This is a lifesaver," one commissioner said, urging the board to share the positive outcomes publicly.
Another commissioner and the chief pushed back on recent media reports characterizing the system as constant surveillance. "Of course, what the person said is not true," the chief said of a recent report, and staff described state restrictions on sharing the data. Commissioners noted that access to Flock alerts is tied to criminal thresholds in the state and that the system is searched if there is an investigative need.
The chief described operational benefits: officers can receive alerts on their phones when a vehicle of interest enters town and respond quickly; the town coordinates data use with state rules and prosecutors when appropriate.
What happens next: Commissioners discussed continued public outreach and emphasized that any expanded data sharing would follow state law and prosecutorial review.
