Plymouth Police Weigh Flock Camera Future

Plymouth police are advocating for the continued use of Flock cameras, a network of license plate reading devices. These cameras have been instrumental in aiding police responses to violent crimes and cases involving missing persons, according to police leadership. The system has been credited with assisting in arrests in two separate cases earlier this year.

However, the technology's use has become a point of contention following a recent incident where an arrest was erroneously made. Flock cameras incorrectly flagged a vehicle as stolen, an error that has since been attributed to a data entry mistake in another state's nationwide database. This event has intensified community concerns about data privacy and the potential for misuse of such surveillance technology.

During a recent city council meeting, residents voiced apprehension, with some trusting the police chief but not the Flock company or similar ALPR systems. In response to the concerns, police leaders stated that data has never been shared with federal agencies and that searches are restricted to supervisors and detectives. Flock has also adjusted policies on data retention and accountability since the previous error.