Ferndale Approves Flock Camera System with 3-2 Vote
(Arden Vanover, April 16, 2023)
Ferndale, MI – Cameras will soon be capturing images of vehicles and checking license plates for potential issues on streets in Ferndale as a split vote led to approval of the Flock surveillance system.
In December 2022, Ferndale Police Department presented its interest in testing Flock Safety cameras in the city. At the recent City Council meeting on March 27, the purchase of a Flock License Plate Recognition Platform for the Detective Bureau was approved.
These solar-powered license plate recognition cameras will be placed around the city of Ferndale as a part of a two-year pilot program costing a total of $47.8k with installation included.
After a short recap presentation by David Spellman, Captain of the Ferndale Police Department, the topic was opened for public discussion to the attendees of the meeting.
Ferndale community members came forward with both support and opposition related to the implementation of this pilot program.
Concerns brought up by both residents and councilmembers were, in part, regarding the Flock system’s opening to be subpoenaed or used to catch traffic violations.
Police Chief Dennis Emmi and Captain Spellman confirmed that the four detectives employed by the police department would be those with access to the system, and it would not be available to other officers or accessible within patrol vehicle dashboard computers.
However, regarding possible subpoena, Flock would comply with a court order to hand over the data the cameras had collected if it is still available. Flock would only give notice to Ferndale PD as an agency.
Mayor Pro Tem Kat Bruner James, who is also a Civil Rights Attorney, stated her viewpoints for this system as the council began its discussion.
“One serious concern that we really don’t have a solution for is uses by other law enforcement agencies that aren’t permitted by our policy and don’t align with our values. There’s really no way that we can resist subpoenas, court orders, etcetera for agencies who are criminalizing poverty and seeking disadvantaged people,” she said as she declared her opposing vote on Flock cameras.
She said she is especially worried about bordering states without abortion access who may be coming to the state for access, so she worries about other state law enforcement obtaining court orders and making Ferndale inaccessible to others looking for help.
Other Ferndale residents and business owners also came forward and showed their support for a safer city with the installation of the Flock cameras.
Residents brought attention to the fact that the new camera system would give detectives extra information in time-sensitive crimes, such as violent crimes or robberies. Having access to who comes in and out of the city could prove to be helpful for Amber Alerts or stolen vehicle notices.
This hit close to home for Councilwoman Raylon Leaks-May as she had experienced the kidnapping of a loved one.
“I have watched out police department go through all kinds of accreditations to go through all kinds of steps in order to be more transparent, in order to change their perception and be more available to the community,” she said. “And my decision, after long consideration, is to allow this police department to have this pilot to see how it works. And I want to be here to see how it works.”
Leaks-May hopes that with the further development of the police department, Flock can make Ferndale a safer place, and when the city does need them, the cameras will be there to make the investigation go quickly and smoothly.
As discussions came to a close, Mayor Melanie Piana weighed in on the contract with Flock.
“This is a tough decision,” she said as she broke the tie between councilmembers. “We’re trying to solve crimes and help people retrieve their property whose lives were violated by being a victim of crime.”
The result of the motion was 3-2 decision; Piana, Pawlica and Leaks-May voting in favor of the cameras and James and Mikulski voting against.
Mayor Piana said, with this tool, the Detective Bureau should be able to solve crimes “quicker and with better outcomes.”
