Privacy complaints from residents prompted Cabot, a city in Central Arkansas, to pause a controversial and rapidly expanding surveillance program.
Unlike similar recent decisions elsewhere in the state, this one was made by the mayor rather than the police chief, according to TXK Today.
What happened?
Ken Kincade halted Cabot's use of Flock Safety's automated plate-reader system after saying residents' concerns deserved closer review.
The action made Cabot the third Arkansas city to back away from the technology since July — and the first wherein the decision came from the mayor.
During the suspension, Kincade said the city will reexamine the program and gather input from residents and local leaders.
He did not give a timeline for that review or explain how public comments would be collected.
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By 10 a.m. Friday, all of Cabot's Flock cameras were covered and disconnected from power.
Kincade also said the police department had used the cameras for public safety purposes, including locating stolen vehicles and assisting during emergency alerts.
Why does it matter?
According to TXK Today, the cameras capture more than license plates.
They log when and where a vehicle was spotted along with its make, model, color, and identifying details such as bumper stickers or damage. Depending on agency settings, those records may be shared across departments.
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In Greers Ferry, retired residents Charlie and Angie Wolf pushed to have a Flock camera moved from across from their home after it recorded their driveway, front yard, and visitors, TXK Today noted.
Separately, Pea Ridge Police Chief Lynn Hahn ended the city's Flock participation, citing resident concerns, questions about return on investment, and the time and energy the issue was consuming.
In Sherwood, a camera reportedly misread a plate by one letter and flagged a vehicle as stolen, per TXK Today. That led to a traffic stop in which an officer drew a weapon and a woman sitting beside a one-month-old child in the back seat was detained.
Supporters say taking the cameras offline could make it harder for police to recover stolen cars or move quickly in criminal investigations.
Critics argue that stronger guardrails are necessary if communities are expected to trust systems that gather large amounts of data on ordinary drivers.
What's being done?
Cabot suspended the Flock program to put it under review.
Pea Ridge ended its program, and Greers Ferry officials did the same after legal concerns were raised by the Institute for Justice.
"I have heard your concerns that these Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras have raised about our privacy as citizens," Kincade said. "... As your mayor, I firmly believe that public safety and civil liberties must never conflict. Both must be protected equally."
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