Flock Camera Quarterly Update
In October 18th’s Planning and Public Safety Committee Meeting, the Division of Police presented their Quarterly Update of the Flock License Plate Reader (LPR) Cameras installed by the city. Flock LPRs are cameras placed in locations throughout the city that take photos of car license plates as they drive by, and cross-reference license plate numbers with plate numbers associated with crimes. They are meant to help Lexington Police track down criminals more quickly and easily.
The Lexington Police Department (LPD) concluded its first quarterly audit of the cameras this month. The audit found that there were no violations of LPR use policy within the Police Department. Some of the policies that LPD has enacted include officers giving a stated reason any time they search the Flock database of plate numbers, and getting approval from a supervisor any time data is shared with other law enforcement agencies.
As of October 3rd, 2022, LPD claims that Flock cameras have helped:
Recover 82 stolen vehicles
Locate 11 missing persons
Sieze 30 firearms
Further 38 investigations.
No modifications were made toward the Flock License Plate Readers (LPR) program, but here a few details that stood out from the meeting.
A few Flock cameras have been vandalized. Greathouse says LPD will continue posting the locations of their Flock cameras on their website to stay transparent to the Lexington community.
Flock ALPR cameras scan license plates as they drive by and check license plate numbers to see if any numbers match ones associated with a crime.
Many Councilmembers spoke in support of the program, though they had many questions.
This program is up for renewal in August 2023. At that point, the Committee and Council will have to decide on approving the Flock LPRs for another year.
