Rolling Meadows residents, officials debate continued use of Flock cameras
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (WLS) -- Residents, city officials and police discussed the continued use of automated license plate reader cameras during a meeting in Rolling Meadows, where some community members called for the city to end its contract with Flock Safety.
Police Chief Anthony Peluso said the technology has been useful in investigations involving missing persons and burglaries, but some residents raised concerns about privacy and accountability.
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"We ask that you terminate the contract with Flock and do not replace it with another vendor," one speaker told officials during the meeting.
The city said the cameras, installed since 2023, are positioned primarily on arterial roads and capture still images of vehicles and their license plates entering and leaving Rolling Meadows.
Peluso said the cameras are one of several investigative tools used by police.
"Is this a miracle type technology? No, it's not," Peluso said. "Is it a tool that we use in addition to other tools to develop leads in our investigations? Yes."
According to police, the cameras can assist with investigations involving stolen cars, wanted people associated with vehicles and stolen license plates.
The suburb's 10 cameras have prompted privacy concerns that have been debated in communities across the country. Last month, the city of Los Angeles allowed its contract with Flock to expire over concerns about data use and the misidentification of vehicles.
Officers in jurisdictions across the country, including in the Chicago area, have faced discipline for using technology to track people for personal reasons.
"My concern is whether it's used lawfully and with meaningful accountability," another meeting attendee said.
A Flock representative at the meeting said the company does not share data with the federal government, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"You control who you share your cameras with. Again, that's not a Flock decision," said Dan Murdock of Flock Safety. "That is a decision fully made by this board and your law enforcement team."
Peluso said the Rolling Meadows Police Department shares Flock data only with Illinois law enforcement agencies and that images are stored for 30 days.
