The Centerton City Council voted to end the city’s contract with Flock, a traffic camera company, on Tuesday night. The city’s attorney recommended the council either maintain the city’s contract with Flock cameras or terminate it completely. The council chose the latter option, but not before the police chief made his case first.
Police Chief’s Statement
Centerton police chief Cody Harper took to the podium at Tuesday night’s council meeting to update both leaders and the public on the use of Flock cameras over the last couple of years. The data collected from the cameras is then stored in a law enforcement database to help officers potentially catch any wanted suspects.
Chief Harper said he understands concerns about privacy violations and the misuse of cameras. The police chief said that’s where he comes in. ‘The potential for misuse of any technology, any system that we use is there,’ Harper said. ‘I can’t stop that. But, what I can do is I can hold accountability when something does happen. We can do training. We can do all of the preventative measures to make sure everybody knows how to use it, what not to do with it.’
Harper said there are now license plate reader cameras at all main entry points to the city. Harper said those are in working order. However, Harper said there are also more typical video cameras placed in parks and other spots that draw large crowds. Chief Harper said those cameras are not yet working, although he’s working with Flock to correct that.
Community Reaction
John Voden and his wife made it a point to attend to hear the chief out. ‘I think whenever you do something like this, people should be concerned about the information falling into maybe the hands of people who don’t need to have the information,’ Voden said. Voden said he just can’t get past the privacy concerns. ‘Oftentimes, I wonder why things like this can’t be put up to a public vote or put on a ballot,’ Voden said. ‘I think that would be a reasonable thing to do and let the public decide.’
Council members said they heard the chief’s point on public safety, but felt they should honor the public’s wishes to do away with them.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
