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Residents urge limits, oversight or removal of Flock cameras at public comment
Summary
Multiple residents asked the council to require warrants, limit outside-agency data sharing and create penalties or independent oversight for Flock license-plate systems; some attendees opposed removal, citing public-safety benefits.
Several Casa Grande residents used the public-comment period to press the council on the city's use of Flock license-plate-reader technology.
Jacob Petrovski told council that nearly 978 people had signed a petition asking the city to remove or curtail the system, and he urged a warrant requirement, limits on sharing with outside agencies and independent oversight. "A warrant is not an obstacle to public safety. It's what separates a legitimate investigation from unchecked surveillance," Petrovski said. Other speakers, including Benjamin Hanrian and Nancy Wood, said they feared who would access stored data and objected to long-term retention; they described feeling unsafe at schools and public places if location records can be compiled.
Opposing views were also voiced. Pedro Encinas and others said cameras improve public safety by helping police find vehicles involved in crashes or abductions and that some residents feel safer with the system in place. The council did not take immediate action on the cameras during this meeting; members noted the publicengagement materials and said staff would continue to collect input.
