FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — The Fort Wayne Police Department will discontinue its use of Flock license plate reader technology following a decision by City Council not to approve a proposed contract.
Fort Wayne Police Chief Scott Ritchie said he briefly considered whether a smaller contract could allow the department to keep a limited number of cameras.
One issue was the department’s obligation under the federal grant that originally funded the program. The federal government has now authorized FWPD to close the grant early without penalty or jeopardizing eligibility for future grant funding.
Ritchie said he continues to believe Flock has value as an investigative tool. Officers and detectives have used the technology to develop leads, locate vehicles connected to criminal activity, recover stolen vehicles, find missing people and assist with serious criminal investigations.
However, Ritchie said maintaining public trust is more important than keeping the technology.
After discussions with Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker, Ritchie said it became clear that continuing the program after City Council’s decision could damage the relationship between police, elected officials and the community.
For that reason, FWPD will discontinue its use of Flock technology.
2 comments
Frankly, overall …i don’t see the big deal.
I think people are a bunch of whiners. ..not happy unless they have something to complain about.
I’m sort of an open book, really. You can place cameras up all around me, i couldn’t give two squirts, to be honest.
I simply don’t care, as I simply have nothing to hide.
Privacy? Public? It doesn’t much matter, to me; I have something called moral conduct.
What have you all got, that’s sooOOOooo important to keep hidden, eh?
🙄
Unless… unless you’re up to nefarious deeds… hmm?
If you are out-and-about, in public, then you DO NOT have privacy concerns.
If you are worried that the Law Enforcement is going to use something against you… then you either need to stop what you’ve been doing… or, get some help!
I see nothing but benefits here.
What are the arguments???
Patterning your questionable activities?
Bypassing warrantable operations?
Being ‘caught’ on camera doing something you shouldn’t be?
All pathetic arguments, for something taking place (once again) …in the public.
Thought about havin’ another go!
What about License Plate Readers in many of the Law Enforcement vehicles already on the roadways?
Where was the uproar, about that one, eons ago?
Nothing is more embarrassing, then when your wife (hypothetically) gets pulled over outside of Wapakoneta. Then, having to defend yourself against that (somewhat) frightening glare, when you KNOW you renewed the plates on ‘oplates.com’!
😳…only to be told, by the Highway Patrol, that “This Registration doesn’t even belong to this car.”
… huh. 🤔
Maybe this comment is more appropriate under this article…
https://wowo.com/couple-married-three-weeks-after-meeting-share-8-keys-to-lasting-marriage/#comment-8383
😬 Again, if i am infringing upon this publication, i am quite sorry!