Flock cameras stolen and vandalized in Kearney as privacy debate grows
Dangling wires from a telephone show where a Flock camera used to be located.
It's an apparent theft outside the Kearney park named after notorious criminal Jesse James.
The theft comes as debate heats up over privacy concerns about cameras used to collect license plate data.
Last week, another Kearney Flock camera was cut down near Nation Road and 19th Street.
The suspect for what could be felony property damage, depending on the cost to fix it, was not seen.
"They suspect that someone came from behind it and cut it down. It is a fairly remote location," said Colleen Doctorian, City of Kearney Public Information Officer.
When it comes to the Flock cameras in Missouri, KMBC 9 News found a tale of two cities.
Despite the apparent theft and property damage, Kearney city leaders support their continued use as a law enforcement tool.
The city is in the midst of a five-year contract at $35,000 a year for 14 cameras.
Bolivar city leaders recently voted to ditch the cameras after having the first one installed in June.
The Bolivar city contract for five Flock cameras came from a state of Missouri "Blue Shield" grant for $49,000 for two years, already paid in full.
Despite the contract, city leaders decided to bag the Flock cameras in Bolivar when the company didn't respond to a request to take them down.
"I had more calls, phone calls, text messages, seeing people at the grocery store ballgame saying, you know, hey, we don't like this," said Bolivar Alderman Dusty Ross.
"It's another tool for our police department to use in criminal investigations," Doctorian said.
Kearney Police have used Flock cameras to find a missing person and a stolen recreational vehicle.
Ross said that during Bolivar's brief run with the cameras, starting in June, he received daily videos from concerned citizens about wrongful arrests and misuse of Flock camera data.
The Washington Post reports at least 50 law enforcement officers across the country have used license plate readers to spy on their significant others.
Following the backlash, Flock announced several changes last week.
The company is now requiring a criminal case number for every database search.
Flock announced it will delete data after seven days instead of thirty.
The company will also lock out police officers from the system if their activity looks abnormal.
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