The City of Parkville has suspended operation of its Flock Safety license plate readers after citizen outcry at public meetings held last week.
Alexa Barton, city administrator, issued a statement on Friday, Sept. 11.
“We appreciate the residents who participated in our recent public meetings and shared their questions and concerns about the city’s use of Flock cameras,” Barton said in the press release. “The primary concern raised was not with the Parkville Police Department, but with how data generated by Parkville’s cameras may be accessed or shared outside our community.
“Those concerns deserve clear and complete answers. As a result, we are turning off the cameras – effective immediately – and suspending our Flock Safety system. We believe temporarily deactivating the cameras while we gather additional information is the appropriate step.
“This is not a determination that Parkville’s system has been misused; it is an opportunity to ensure the safeguards, accountability and oversight associated with the technology are addressed.”