Toledo police are defending their use of more than 100 Flock license plate reader cameras as residents and council members push back against the technology. Police Chief Michael Troendle told the City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Wednesday that removing the cameras would push crime higher.
“The removal of this technology and other technologies that go a long way in helping us do our job will increase our crime rate in the city,” Troendle said.
The committee took up the issue Wednesday night, hearing from supporters and opponents of the program. Some residents and council members asked for an independent audit rather than an end to the cameras.
“An independent audit at this time is the right thing to do. Any termination or disruption that would be rash decision and I don’t think that would be in the best interest of the city’s safety,” one resident said.
Other residents spoke against the cameras outright.
“We do not choose to be monitored by the state without legal and constitutional justification,” one resident said.
“We live in the United States of America, that’s supposed to mean something. That’s supposed to mean we have liberty and freedom,” another resident said.
Council Member Theresa Gadus of District 3 said the residents she represents want the program paused.
“The people that I govern for right now have a lot of questions and they want this paused and they do not want to be mass surveilled,” Gadus said.
Council President Vanice S. Williams of District 4 said she opposes a pause.
“I will not advocate for a pause when I have a baby dying, and a 16-year-old dying,” Williams said.
Troendle asked the committee to weigh the impact of pausing the cameras.
“Pausing them, I just hope that we consider what that affect will have on our community,” Troendle said.
The committee also discussed who accesses Flock camera data, including immigration authorities.
“Our data, TPD’s data, is shared with jurisdictions that have 287(g) agreements,” one resident said.
TPD said it has policies in place to prevent and discover misuse of the system.
District 2 Councilman Adam Martinez is placing a hold on his proposal to expand Flock cameras in his district to include major intersections and schools that opt in to their usage, until an audit of the city’s Flock cameras is completed.
