Commissioners vote not to renew contract
Despite an impassioned plea by Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier, county commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to end a contract for automated license plate readers provided by Flock Safety.
The vote followed nearly an hour of animated discussion about use of the camera devices to help curb crime balanced with concerns about individual privacy and potential misuse.
More than 50 cameras will be deactivated and removed.
County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said he was not questioning the effectiveness of ALPRs, but had concerns about Flock itself.
“The issue today is the credibility and trustworthiness of Flock,” Stolarczyk said. “Flock is the vendor providing the service to us today. So that is the only issue before us.”
The decision by the Kendall County Commissioners Court means not renewing an agreement with Flock from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2027. The cost would have been $198,550.
About 80% of that would have been covered by a grant from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.
The 5-0 vote Aug. 25 followed a presentation from Auxier, who urged commissioners to give his deputies another year to demonstrate the system’s effectiveness.
“All I’m asking is to be allowed to use this tool.”
— Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier
“All I’m asking is to be allowed to use this tool,” Auxier told commissioners. “Not against you, not to watch every move that you make. To allow me to use it as a good, viable police tool, to help expedite police work and investigations.”
Advantages cited by sheriff
Auxier argued the cameras have served as a “force multiplier” for investigators, including the recovery of stolen construction equipment, investigations into burglaries and mail theft, locating a missing elderly woman with dementia and helping lead to the arrest of a murder suspect.
“ALPRs do not solve crimes. Investigators solve crimes,” Auxier said. “The ALPR helps the investigators determine where to look. A hit of an LPR is not an automatic proof, probable cause or guilt.”
Auxier also addressed concerns the cameras could be used to continuously track residents. He said Kendall County has 54 automated license plate readers spread across 662 square miles and argued that the system records vehicles only as they pass individual camera locations.
“I’m not asking to expand it,” Auxier said. “I’m telling you this is not going to go away if we don’t, if you don’t give it to us, then we’re going to be without it.”
Despite those arguments, commissioners said concerns surrounding Flock itself, access to collected data and the potential for misuse outweighed the benefits of continuing the agreement.
Commissioners had second thoughts
Commissioner Jennifer McCall said she initially supported both the grant and the Flock contract because she believed the technology would enhance public safety.
“When I voted in favor of the MVCPA grant and Flock contract, I did so because we were told the primary purpose was to enhance public safety,” McCall said.
Officials noted the debate about Flock has raged for about a year, with online protests mounting about Orwellian surveillance coupled with worries the data could be hacked for nefarious purposes.
McCall said information that emerged during the past year, particularly during the previous four months, changed her mind about Flock.
“Based on the review of the current contract, I do not believe it provides sufficient assurance that data collected through the system will be adequately protected from access by outside entities,” McCall said.
McCall said she still supports providing law enforcement with tools to protect the public but is no longer sure the cameras are the way to do that.
“For these reasons and others that have arisen during my review, I cannot support continuing the agreement with Flock,” she said.
Commissioner Richard Chapman also raised concerns, including complaints he received from constituents about cameras positioned near private gates.
“I didn’t really object to my license plate being read. I really don’t care,” Chapman said. “I objected to the numbers that were going out there, and I don’t think we would be sitting here today had we stuck with a smaller number and put them in strategic locations.”
Commissioner Chad Carpenter said residents’ opposition to the program was overwhelming and acknowledged that he had previously supported the system.
“My job as an elected commissioner was to represent my constituents, and this topic is overwhelming,” Carpenter said. “No, they do not want this.”
Ian Leslie, a Flock representative, asked commissioners before the vote for an opportunity to address their concerns, arguing that questions remained unanswered about the company’s safeguards, governance and oversight.
“I would value the opportunity to again address the unanswered questions that you guys do have,” Leslie said, adding the company could provide clearer answers regarding access, data retention and where information is shared.
Commissioners still voted to end the agreement.
Terminating the contract
Officials said termination of the contract requires 30 days’ notice.
Flock will remove its hardware from county rights of way, officials said. Although removal could take time, officials said the equipment will be non-operational during that period.
The grant funding awarded for the upcoming fiscal year also cannot simply be redirected to other law enforcement technology.
Money the county had budgeted for its local match, however, could potentially remain available for another purpose.
The vote ends the county’s participation in Flock’s platform despite Auxier’s request for additional time to demonstrate its effectiveness.
“If you take it away from us, we may never have it again,” Auxier told commissioners. “You can see I’m passionate about this because I think it’s a very viable tool.”
Comment
Comments