Flock Cameras were once again a topic of discussion at the March 19 City of Newton Board of Aldermen meeting as a representative from Flock Safety was on hand to give some better details on how their cameras work by showing the actual footage from a sample camera that she set up earlier that day on a random street in Newton.
Police chief Randy Patrick introduced Cate Carreiro to the board, who addressed the board on how the cameras could benefit the police department and city.
“This is not necessarily going to solve the crime, but this is a force multiplier to the department,” said Carreiro. “These are cameras that are up 24 hours, don’t need a break, and don’t need lunch. It’s also making sure that your officers are reacting proactively.”
The cameras, which have AI capabilities, can give a traffic count, give the make and model of vehicles, and read tag numbers day and night.
The board was impressed with how clear the footage was and the fact that tags were able to see so well both day and night. Carreiro added that with their system, they’ll also get access to over 770 cameras set up throughout other areas nationwide.
Carreiro told the board that after mapping the area, it would take eight cameras to fully cover the city of Newton. Each camera is leased at $3,000 per year, which includes maintenance. Of the 8 cameras that would need to be installed, seven would be a standard install at $650 apiece, and one would be an existing installation at $150.
Alderman Bob Bridges asked if the city would have to purchase eight cameras, or could it purchase any amount it wanted.
“You could get whatever cameras that you would like, but I would tell you this is what covered the jurisdiction in and out,” said Carreiro. “Meaning you couldn’t get in or leave this city without getting captured.”
Alderman Michael Hillie asked how effective the cameras were in the court of law, to which Carreiro said that the chief could download any footage and attach it to a court case, adding that she has not heard of any issues from the court of law in using Flock cameras.
Patrick said that a bigger asset of the cameras would be the network, adding that he’s talked to sheriffs in Neshoba, Leake, and Scott Counties about the cameras, which they are using.
Bridges said that he thinks it’s all great and that he supports it, but right now the city was in a bad financial state.
Mayor Antonio Hoye agreed and asked how they figured out that the city needed eight cameras.
Carreiro said that when they mapped out the city in the first appointment, they determined how to build a gate around the jurisdiction, because it’s not always folks from the city that’s causing trouble, they could come from outside. In the second phase, they determine locations for cameras on the inside of the city where troublemakers that have come into the city could go once they’re within the gate.
“Could you go down? Yes, I would say in most cases, five or four would get you covered,” said Carreiro of the number of cameras that the city could get. “But understand, if eight is what you need to cover everything, four is only going to give you fifty percent coverage.”
Patrick ended the presentation by saying that the cameras are just a way that he’s trying to better the safety of the city and his officers.
“We don’t want, at the end of the day, to see that internet trolls are saying that the police department is not doing this or that. We’re fighting to try to get stuff. And I know that everybody’s saying that money is an issue, but again I always say what is the price for safety,” said Patrick. “I just want to make sure that we’re on the same page. What’s we’re trying to do is for the safety of the city.”
Alderwoman Temeka Drummond agreed, adding that she feels like that the next time they have a session that they try to figure out a way to get the cameras.
“I’m a citizen and I have children and family, everybody up here do, and a lot of the times the police department is hit because of safety,” said Drummond. “So, we need to figure out something to at least get four cameras, we can’t’ get all eight, because it’s a need in our county for these. We’ve just got to find a way to come back and find the money for them.”
McCalphia suggested that while they can’t afford the eight cameras right now, they could at least start with buying some and gradually add on more later.
Bridges agreed that it’s a need and suggested that Patrick look at his budget and see if there’s something that he could cut out to get the cameras.
“We’ve got an $825,000 dollar budget. Figure out a way to do it,” said Bridges. “That’s the kind of bind we’re in. If not, we’ll have to wait until next year’s budget and find a way to cut the overall budget to put this in.”
“I just hate that the city is compromising so much for safety,” said Drummond. “We’re just going to have to figure this out to at least get four. There’s a lot going on and nobody wants to snitch, but if you have a camera, the camera’s going to already tell what’s going on.”
Hoye agreed, saying that he feels they need to do what they can because the cameras would be a great benefit to the city and community.
McCalphia assured Patrick that the board wouldn’t let it rest, adding that while they wouldn’t be able to make a decision that night, they would work on it and try to figure it out.
