Ash Grove to likely discontinue use of Flock cameras

The city of Ash Grove could soon end their contract with Flock Safety after their current terms expire. This and other matters were discussed at the city’s board of aldermen meeting on Aug. 18.
 
Flock cameras have become a household name across the United States as dissent against the license plate tracking devices grows. As part of a country-wide movement known as “Deflock,” citizens have pushed back against the use of the cameras, going so far as to vandalize or completely disable and destroy them.
 
Ash Grove experienced a similar occurrence last week as a vehicle hit the camera, toppling it from its mount. The wires were then disconnected. The vandalism was undertaken in such a way that the culprit could not be identified as they approached from the camera's blind spot to commit the act.
 
Newly sworn-in Chief of Police Joe Mahan said that they suspect it was no accident, though they have no suspects yet. The camera was taken into storage, as the city has no plans to re-raise the camera.
 
Mahan and the city agree, however, that the recent movement against the cameras has nothing to do with their decision to discontinue services; instead, they cite financial concerns and a lack of use as their reasons.
 
“I have no problem with that decision,” said Mahan. “My take on it is that for the cost of what we’re paying for that, we could be utilizing that money to do something else.”
 
According to Mayor Caleb Smith, the Flock cameras don’t provide much value for the city of Ash Grove and its police force, especially because of their price. The cameras cost $3,000 per camera per year and are not used often except by outside law enforcement agencies such as the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. The Ash Grove Police Department has only been able to make use of the camera one occasion, which involved a silver alert being issued for a lost, elderly driver.
 
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office uses the cameras more than the city, a partnership that Smith hypothetically wishes to continue, so long as the GCSO ponies up some of the cost.
 
The cameras can be used by law enforcement officials in a completely different jurisdiction where applicable, said Mahan. He continued, stating that there were very few safeguards in place when it came to the abuse of these camera systems.
 
“My biggest concern would be the lack of safeguards that Flock had,” he said. “I know that they’re trying to put some more protections in place… but you can see in the news, officers are getting in trouble by misusing Flock.”
 
The city elected to wait out the remainder of the contract and then decline to renew. The contract expires in six months.