Police: City is ahead of schedule by installing 31% of Flock cameras

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 30% of Flock cameras have been installed throughout the City of Columbia, about six months after city leaders approved them.

According to Columbia Police Department Assistant Chief Lance Bolinger, 31% of Flock cameras have been installed in the city, which is ahead of what was anticipated. Bolinger said about 60 more cameras are expected to be installed within the next month.

Although the city is just six months into the process, Bolinger said the benefits of the technology is already paying off.

"We are just scratching the surface of what this system can do," Bolinger said. "A lot of what we got to do on the back end is not only just the installation of the cameras, but it's the training with the officers. We got to teach the officers how to use the system, and the more they use it, the better they get with it."

According to Bolinger, police have started pulling data from the Flock system in some recent shootings.

A chaotic scene unfolded at Cosmo Park earlier this month, leaving two people shot, one of which was critically injured. Bolinger said police do not have any suspects in custody in connection with the shooting.

Bolinger said the investigation is complex because hundreds of people were on the scene and they have not had many witnesses come forward with information. However, he said the Flock system has helped police determine what vehicles were on scene, as well as which ones were not.

Even months after the approval, some Columbia residents still are not on board with their use.

Anthony Willroth, of Hold Como Accountable, said his main issue remains with the collection of peoples' data, something he says has only grown since the Trump administration took office.

"I'm more concerned now than I was when they were approved," Willroth said. "A lot of the fears that I have surrounding a program like Flock I think have been realized. You know, something like DOGE where we see reports every week about them coming into different places, government agencies and demanding data."

He also said he believes many variables are involved in solving cases, and he thinks police could utilize methods other than Flock to do so.

Flock Safety cameras are designed to capture images of license plates under various conditions, including nighttime and severe weather, according to its website. Flock claims the cameras do not capture identifiable images of people or faces. CPD also says that the cameras are not used for traffic enforcement. 

According to Bolinger, within the past month, 14 different stolen vehicles have hit off of the Flock system.

"We average about 500 stolen vehicles a year, which is quite a few," Bolinger said. "I really think technology like this will really help curb some of that."

Attorney Dan Viets, with Mid-Missouri Civil Liberties Association, was a main critic of the cameras the night they were approved.

Viets described the use of the cameras to George Orwell’s "1984," claiming they put the city under constant watch. Viets also said he is concerned there is no independent evidence that the cameras help prevent or help solve crime.

"There may be anecdotal instances but it's very expensive. If you can solve one crime, it does not justify spending the money that they cost," Viets said. "We could hire several police officers with the money that those cameras will cost the city and will cost the tax payers."

Bolinger reiterated that the cameras are only pointed at the road.

He expects all cameras will be installed in the city by mid-to-late summer.