Boone County prosecutor calls on Columbia City Council to approve Flock cameras

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson on Monday asked the Columbia City Council to approve the use of the Flock Safety Camera System.

Flock Safety cameras are designed to capture images of license plates under various conditions, including nighttime and severe weather, according to Flock's website.

The cameras use automatic license plate readers to provide real-time alerts to law enforcement. The data can be shared between multiple law enforcement agencies to help with investigations. The system has received pushback from national organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union.

In a Monday news release, Johnson’s office said he submitted a letter to the council endorsing the system and claiming it could help as the Columbia Police Department continues to face staffing shortages.

“The shortage of officers on the streets is a serious public safety concern, and while progress is being made, our city still lacks the number of officers needed to keep pace with our growing population,” Johnson says in the release. “The Flock Safety Camera system would act as a force multiplier, providing 24/7 eyes on the street and allowing law enforcement to monitor key locations and identify suspects, even when officers cannot be physically present.”

More than 200 agencies across Missouri already use Flock cameras including the Jefferson City Police Department, Lee’s Summit, Webster Grove PD, Cape Girardeau PD, O’Fallon PD, and the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Office, according to an August presentation by CPD. The City of Fulton entered into an agreement with Flock in February, according to previous reporting.

“By approving this initiative, the City Council would be providing our officers with the tools they need to better protect our community,” Johnson says in the release. “We are confident this system will improve crime prevention efforts and make a lasting difference in keeping our communities safe.”

CPD has previously suggested using a camera system in Columbia called Fusus, which the City Council rejected following community pushback at a November 2022 council meeting. The council voted 4-3 against using that surveillance software.

Two of the council members who voted against the use of Fusus – Pat Fowler and Andrea Waner, of Wards 1 and 2, respectively -- are no longer on the council. One councilman who voted in favor of using Fusus – Matt Pitzer, of Ward 5 – is no longer on the council.

Ward 5 Councilman Donald Waterman said on Aug. 1 that he supports the use of Flock cameras. Ward 3 Councilman Roy Lovelady indicated on Aug. 1 that he did not support the use of that camera system.

Community group Hold Como Accountable also indicated in August that they do not support using the Flock system.

According to an August presentation from CPD, if approved, each ward would receive a handful of cameras and intersection packages from Flock, and some Downtown cameras would be replaced. An intersection package consists of four license plate reading cameras and two fixed live-feed cameras. The presentation said each ward would get the following:

• Ward 1:
  • 3 Intersection packages
  • 0 license plate readers
• Ward 2:
  • 2 Intersection packages 
  • 4 license plate readers
• Ward 3:
  • 3 intersection packages
  • 2 license plate readers
• Ward 4
  • 3 intersection packages
  • 0 license plate readers
• Ward 5
  • 1 intersection package
  • 2 license plate readers 
• Ward 6
  • 2 intersection packages 
  • 4 license plate readers

The city took feedback on its Beheard page and during meetings around the community. The council is expected to discuss the system in October.