CPD set to hold four more meetings Thursday for public feedback on Flock cameras
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Police Department will be holding four more meetings Thursday to listen to the public's feedback in regards to implementing Flock Safety camera system throughout the city.
Police Chief Jill Schlude said the goal is to answer any questions the public may have and address any potential concerns. CPD is also accepting public feedback on BeHeardCoMo.gov through Sept. 10.
Flock Safety cameras are designed to capture images of license plates under various conditions, including nighttime and severe weather, according to its 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 data from the cameras is only stored for 30 days. CPD has already drafted a policy for the department to ensure the technology is being used appropriately.
Currently, CPD has five surveillance camera stationed in downtown Columbia, but only one of them is working.
CPD would like to install five new live feed camera downtown to replace the broken ones that can pan, tilt and zoom. Thirteen license plate reader cameras would be spread out across Albert-Oakland Park, the Garth Nature area, the Cosmopolitan Recreational area, the MTK trail, and the Gans Creek Recreational Area. Eight license plate reader cameras will also be placed on Highway 63 with eight more on Interstate 70.
The department believes the cameras would help them find suspects quicker, but not everyone is on board.
Attorney Dan Viets says there is an "instinct from law enforcement" to want to put everyone under surveillance. However, he believes most people value their privacy.
"I feel like we need to resist the impulse of law enforcement to put everyone under surveillance all the time," Viets said. "This is straight out of 1984. This is Big Brother watching you all the time."
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 Wednesday's presentation.
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.
Community feedback meetings on Thursday will be held at:
- 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
