CPD to hold community meetings on Flock cameras, debate continues on the use of cameras in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department is inviting the community to attend a presentation on Flock Safety, a surveillance system that can read license plates.

This system provides real-time alerts to law enforcement and can detect stolen or suspicious vehicles by cross-referencing local, state and national crime databases.

Flock Safety cameras are designed to capture images of license plates under various conditions, including nighttime and severe weather, according to its website. The system has received pushback from national organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union.

According to Flock Safety's website, more than 5,000 communities around the country have implemented this technology to help reduce crime. The company claims that 70% of crimes involve vehicles.

Columbia Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman supports the use of Flock.

"We are dealing with shortages in staffing, so in that case, maybe we have to be a little smarter, take advantage of some of the technology," Waterman said.

However, not everyone agrees with implementing Flock cameras. Anthony Willroth, founder of the group Hold Como Accountable, is not in support of using the camera system.

"I'm strongly opposed to most forms of AI surveillance or any policing that uses AI as a component," Willroth said.

Willroth raised concerns about potential misuse, such as tracking individuals based on their personal choices, including those related to health care.

"I'd like to point out that a system like a Flock is exactly what an attorney general like Andre Bailey would use to do things he's threatened to do so far as tracking trans people and pregnant people that leave the state to get medical care," Willroth said.

CPD wrote in a Wednesday press release that “Flock Safety cameras record license plate numbers and vehicle details like make, model, and color, but they do not capture identifiable images of people or their faces and do not use facial recognition technology. These cameras are not designed for remote or automated traffic enforcement and will not be used for such purposes.”

According to records from the Missouri Highway Patrol, Columbia this year has 222 reported burglary offenses, 272 motor vehicle theft offenses, and 1,111 larceny theft crimes this year. The data shows that 59.2% of motor vehicle thefts occur on public roads, parking lots, and camps, while 26.5% occur at residences or homes. So far this year, 145 homes and 67 businesses have been burglarized.

Waterman believes the system will help solve crimes faster.

"The real time notifications, I think, is proably as importnat as anything because the quicker they can respond, the more likely they are, you know, whether to either stop a situation that may be going ongoing or the quicker they can begin to gather evidence,"

Willthroth suggests CPD explore other methods to combat crime.

"So far as what law enforcement should do, something that other communities in the area have done successfully, above Columbia Police Department has been unable to do is maintain a camera registry. That's something they've attempted in the past. And my understanding is that they've been unable to keep up with it," Willroth said.

Hundreds of Missouri law enforcement agencies have already implemented the Flock camera system. Locally, the Fulton City Council unanimously passed a measure on Feb. 27 to enter an agreement with Flock, according to meeting minutes. A December case in Jefferson City cited the use of Flock cameras at a park to track a vehicle and Callaway County deputies cited using the system in a probable cause statement from September 2023.

This isn't the first time CPD has suggested the use of a camera system. CPD had suggested using a camera system called Fusus, which the City Council rejected following community pushback at a November 2022 council meeting. The council voted 4-3 against using the surveillance software.

Fusus was a software that allowed police to access public and business video footage. Two of the council members who voted against the use of Fusus – Pat Fowler and Andrea Waner, of Wards 1 and 2, respectively -- in 2022 are no longer serving on the council. One councilman who voted in favor of using Fusus – Matt Pitzer, of Ward 5 – is no longer on the council.

CPD wrote in its Wednesday release that has drafted a policy for “appropriate uses of the Flock Safety system,” which will be presented at community meetings.

Those meetings will occur:

Wednesday, Aug. 14

• 9 a.m. - Lange Middle School cafeteria, 2201 Smiley Lane
• Noon - City Hall Council Chambers, 701 E. Broadway
• 3 p.m. - Daniel Boone Regional Library, Friends Room, 100 W. Broadway
• 7 p.m. - Molly Thomas Bowden Policing Center, Community Room, 1204 International Drive  

Thursday, Aug. 15

• 9 a.m. - Crossing Church Student Center Room 320, 3615 Southland Drive
• Noon - City Hall Council Chambers, 701 E. Broadway
• 3 p.m. - Gentry Middle School Media Center, 4200 Bethel Street
• 7 p.m. - Boone Electric Community Room, 1413 Range Line Street

The city will also take feedback online at beheard.como.gov between Aug. 14-Sept. 10.