JONESBORO, Ark. — The Jonesboro Police Department has announced that there have been no reports of misuse involving the city’s Flock safety camera system, according to spokesperson Sally Smith.
“Through our checks and balances, we have no misuse of the system reported,” Smith stated in a response Monday, October 12. “No disciplinary actions, reprimands, or write-ups pertaining to Flock have been generated.”
The statement came after an inquiry was made over the weekend, underscoring public concerns about potential privacy issues related to the camera system.
The Flock system consists of advanced license plate reading cameras designed to capture still images of passing vehicles, including details such as license plate numbers, vehicle characteristics, and timestamps. Police can utilize this data for investigations, helping to identify vehicles involved in crimes or locate missing individuals, according to the technology provider.
As of July, Jonesboro’s Flock network had grown to 54 cameras citywide. Officials credited the system with aiding in locating missing persons and solving major cases, but some residents voiced concerns about whether the technology could be misused.
Despite these concerns, the police department affirmed that ongoing oversight has not revealed any misuse or generated any disciplinary actions related to Flock usage.