Police Chief Aaron Noel gave the Mt. Sterling City Council an overview of the dept.’s Flock camera system in an effort to dispel some of the misinformation being spread on social media at a meeting July 21.
A Flock camera is a license plate reader that uses an advanced motion-activated camera to track license plates and identify unique vehicle features to generate investigative leads, according to media reports.
Noel said Flock cameras are an important investigatory tool that have been used to solve vehicle thefts, missing persons cases and a robbery, among others.
It has also been used to locate sexual offenders and to rescue an elderly dementia patient who was at risk.
On a personal level, Noel said he would want the cameras to be available if someone in his own family went missing.
Video from the cameras are stored for only 30 days at a time are not used for surveillance or spying on individuals, he said.
The chief said the cameras only capture images of license plates.
Noel disputed social media chatter that the cameras are being used to gather personal information on people or capture images from inside a vehicle. The dept. also does not have facial recognition technology or access to social security or bank account information, he said.
Allegations the dept. will also sell information collected from the system to another party are simply false, the chief said.
Citizens do not have a right to privacy on public roadways and Noel stressed there is a system of checks and balances in which officers must give a reason for accessing the cameras, as well as outside agencies who may want access.
Any officer who violates the process is subject to disciplinary action, according to the chief.
Access can be restricted for outside agencies that don’t follow protocol, Noel said.
The cameras, Noel said, are funded with drug forfeiture money. That money, Noel said, can only be used for law enforcement.
In an unrelated effort, the police dept. is asking local homeowners and businesses to participate in a program in which they allow the dept. access to their security cameras if the need arises.
Noel said this could save valuable time should a crime occur.
For more information, visit the dept. website at mtsterlingpd.com.
In other action, the council:
• Heard from an individual named Thomas, (he did not give his last name), who asked if council members receive constitutional or civil rights training.
Council member Dr. Danielle King said council members do receive training through the Kentucky League of Cities.
• Approved the emergency purchase of a 2024 Ram 4500 Chassis Cab truck for Public Works.
• Approved as a surplus a wood chipper.
• Approved a resolution adopting and approving the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement between the city and Transportation Cabinet of $98,000 for the resurfacing of Spring Street.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the police dept. to apply for an officer wellness grant through the Dept. of Justice.
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