By Allyson Dix
For Glasgow News 1
Flock Safety cameras in Tompkinsville were short-lived.
The City of Tompkinsville has reversed course on the three Flock cameras placed within the city limits, voting 3-1 to remove them during a recent commission meeting – just weeks after implementing the system.
Flock cameras are designed to capture and track vehicles moving through designated areas, with data stored within a nationwide network. The privately-owned system has faced increased public scrutiny in recent months, with concerns raised nationwide over mass surveillance and questions about who ultimately has access to the data captured by the cameras.
During the Sept. 3 meeting, Tompkinsville Mayor Michael Bowe acknowledged citizens’ concerns about the surveillance cameras, despite saying they can be a valuable tool for law enforcement.
“We had a lot of concerns that were brought to our attention at the last meeting that should concern us,” Bowe said. “I know it can be a valuable tool, but the fact that we don’t know if that information is not going anywhere else is troublesome.”
Bowe pointed to ongoing civil court cases involving the technology across the country. He said concerns remain over whether information collected could be accessed outside the communities where the cameras are located. He further said that the company has been unable to decline these claims.
“There’s been a lot going on with it in the courts, people are still fighting it…some communities have already gotten rid of it, some people are still jumping into it,” Bowe said.
Commissioner Bob Richardson supported removing Flock cameras from Tompkinsville.
“For more than what’s going on and the trouble it’s causing, for what it cost, I’d say let ‘em come get ‘em,” Richardson said.
Bowe also raised concerns about the costs associated with the Flock camera system, noting that the city has more important needs to incorporate into its budget.
“We have to be careful with our budget,” Bowe said. “We want to make sure [because] there’s other things we need worse than that.”
Bowe said eliminating the expense could help provide the Tompkinsville Police Department with funding for other budget needs.
Richardson said the commission initially viewed the cameras as a positive addition when the idea was first presented.
“But now that we found out it may not be necessarily set up that way and more people are accessible to it, you know, [it’s] sort of misleading,” he said.
Commissioner Lisa Warren said one of concerns was that the data collected by the Flock system is not controlled entirely at the local level.
“It’s not just policed here,” Warren said. “We know we can control what our officers and people do, anybody outside of that, we can’t.”
Commissioner William “Bud” Hoffman was the sole vote against removing the cameras. Commissioners Richardson, Warren, and Jamie Adams voted in favor of removing them.
Capt. Ty Hammer of the Tompkinsville Police Department told Glasgow News 1 on Sept. 11 that the city leases three cameras at a total cost of $9,000 per year.
The cameras are placed on Highway 63 near the Walmart entrance, one on Gamaliel Road, and another one at Tompkinsville Elementary School on Celina Road.
A fourth camera is located near the Allen County line through an agreement between a local company and Allen County officials. Hammer said that camera is not a part of the three-camera system the commission voted to remove.
Hammer said the cameras have assisted the police department in several cases, including an investigation that resulted in charges against an adult male accused of inappropriate contact with a juvenile and dropping the juvenile on the side of a road. The cameras have also assisted officers in other cases, including vehicle thefts.
While Hammer said the cameras are a valuable resource for law enforcement, he said he understands the concerns being raised.
“The cameras are a great tool and resource, especially for situations like child abductions and sexual assault cases,” Hammer said. “I don’t disagree with those individuals who have concerns of being followed, but they have helped tremendously.”
Hammer said the funds saved by eliminating the Flock camera expenses will be helpful for the department’s new vehicles that were needed.
As of Sept. 11, the cameras remained in place.
