Remember Flock cameras?
Earlier this year, the advanced license-plate-reading surveillance system became one of the most controversial technologies in recent history.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw something so bipartisan locally,” Crestview resident Andrew Burke told Mid Bay News in August.
Florida alone saw over a dozen reports of misuse by law enforcement using Flock cameras, such as former Niceville police officer Coty Hall, who was arrested and charged after allegedly using Flock’s system to harass a fellow law enforcement officer and that officer’s spouse.
The Florida Department of Transportation issued a memorandum on August 31 revoking state and local law enforcement’s permits to utilize ALPR technology. The memo gave permittees a 30-day deadline to remove the cameras from state roads.
This deadline has long passed — so what happened with the Flock cameras?
A Flock spokesperson told Mid Bay News that “all cameras were removed from the FDOT before the deadline.”
However, residents point out that the cameras are still standing on county roads, including one on Redwood Avenue, despite Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden’s commitment to remove them from county rights-of-way.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the status of current Flock cameras on county roads.
“It is up to the company to retrieve its equipment so you would need to check with Flock to see if they have completed that task,” Public Information Officer Michele Nicholson said.
This is a developing story. Mid Bay News will provide updates on Flock’s status as we receive more information.
