Former cop who pushed for Palm Bay's Flock cameras calls for shutdown

tonight, 84 at 9:00 and 79 by midnight. Talk to you much more about rain chances in the heat midnight. Talk to you much more about rain chances in the heat over the next few days when I about rain chances in the heat over the next few days when I see at about 615. Noah. Thanks. over the next few days when I see at about 615. Noah. Thanks. New at six. A former police see at about 615. Noah. Thanks. New at six. A former police officer fought to bring flock New at six. A former police officer fought to bring flock cameras to palm Bay, but now he officer fought to bring flock cameras to palm Bay, but now he wants them gone. Right now, cameras to palm Bay, but now he wants them gone. Right now, that program is suspended wants them gone. Right now, that program is suspended because of some permitting that program is suspended because of some permitting issues, but some say the because of some permitting issues, but some say the license plate readers have gone issues, but some say the license plate readers have gone way too far. Fox 35 Esther license plate readers have gone way too far. Fox 35 Esther Bauer continues our way too far. Fox 35 Esther Bauer continues our investigation tonight live in Bauer continues our investigation tonight live in palm Bay. So, Esther, that now investigation tonight live in palm Bay. So, Esther, that now retired police officer says the palm Bay. So, Esther, that now retired police officer says the readers need more oversight. retired police officer says the readers need more oversight. Lou. And the former officer is readers need more oversight. Lou. And the former officer is concerned there is not enough Lou. And the former officer is concerned there is not enough checks and balances to really concerned there is not enough checks and balances to really make sure law enforcement is checks and balances to really make sure law enforcement is not misusing this tool and make sure law enforcement is not misusing this tool and weaponizing it against the not misusing this tool and weaponizing it against the public. He is urging the City weaponizing it against the public. He is urging the City of Palm Bay to not only suspend public. He is urging the City of Palm Bay to not only suspend these readers behind me, but to of Palm Bay to not only suspend these readers behind me, but to shut them down completely. these readers behind me, but to shut them down completely. Flock is mass surveillance. shut them down completely. Flock is mass surveillance. That pushback now coming from Flock is mass surveillance. That pushback now coming from the former palm Bay police That pushback now coming from the former palm Bay police officer who actually signed the former palm Bay police officer who actually signed this contract and brought flock officer who actually signed this contract and brought flock to palm Bay. So we were this contract and brought flock to palm Bay. So we were absolutely sold something back to palm Bay. So we were absolutely sold something back in 2021 that isn’t what it is absolutely sold something back in 2021 that isn’t what it is today. The former cop says he in 2021 that isn’t what it is today. The former cop says he bought into the program as a today. The former cop says he bought into the program as a way to catch bad guys in. The bought into the program as a way to catch bad guys in. The readers would send alerts to way to catch bad guys in. The readers would send alerts to officers if cars linked to readers would send alerts to officers if cars linked to crimes were spotted in the city. officers if cars linked to crimes were spotted in the city. The whole purpose behind flock crimes were spotted in the city. The whole purpose behind flock was a reactive tool to fight The whole purpose behind flock was a reactive tool to fight crime. But now he’s concerned was a reactive tool to fight crime. But now he’s concerned about citizens privacy and not crime. But now he’s concerned about citizens privacy and not enough checks and balances for about citizens privacy and not enough checks and balances for officers who have access to the enough checks and balances for officers who have access to the readers. We have officers that officers who have access to the readers. We have officers that are being absolutely arrested readers. We have officers that are being absolutely arrested left and right for misuse of are being absolutely arrested left and right for misuse of flock. That just happened in left and right for misuse of flock. That just happened in Sumter County, where this flock. That just happened in Sumter County, where this detective was fired and Sumter County, where this detective was fired and criminally charged for using detective was fired and criminally charged for using flock to gain info on an ex criminally charged for using flock to gain info on an ex wife of her husband. After flock to gain info on an ex wife of her husband. After Fisher saw that, he sent this wife of her husband. After Fisher saw that, he sent this email to City Council, citing Fisher saw that, he sent this email to City Council, citing Fox 35, reporting on that crime email to City Council, citing Fox 35, reporting on that crime and demanding an immediate Fox 35, reporting on that crime and demanding an immediate suspension of flock. The and demanding an immediate suspension of flock. The program did get suspended in suspension of flock. The program did get suspended in palm Bay, but it’s due to bad program did get suspended in palm Bay, but it’s due to bad permitting. A citywide review palm Bay, but it’s due to bad permitting. A citywide review is happening now. Looking at permitting. A citywide review is happening now. Looking at incorrect installation of the is happening now. Looking at incorrect installation of the readers across town permitting incorrect installation of the readers across town permitting is not the problem. Fisher readers across town permitting is not the problem. Fisher argues privacy is the bigger is not the problem. Fisher argues privacy is the bigger issue. But back in May, flock argues privacy is the bigger issue. But back in May, flock told city officials they take issue. But back in May, flock told city officials they take privacy concerns seriously. told city officials they take privacy concerns seriously. Privacy is also critically privacy concerns seriously. Privacy is also critically important, the company says. Privacy is also critically important, the company says. Driver data is only saved for important, the company says. Driver data is only saved for 30 days in Florida, unless a Driver data is only saved for 30 days in Florida, unless a law enforcement agency wants to 30 days in Florida, unless a law enforcement agency wants to save specific information law enforcement agency wants to save specific information related to a case, the data is save specific information related to a case, the data is hard deleted and wiped from the related to a case, the data is hard deleted and wiped from the system. The system is also made hard deleted and wiped from the system. The system is also made to track when officers are system. The system is also made to track when officers are signed in and searching for to track when officers are signed in and searching for information, so police chiefs signed in and searching for information, so police chiefs can see if it’s being misused. information, so police chiefs can see if it’s being misused. All of your officers activity can see if it’s being misused. All of your officers activity from the moment you sign up All of your officers activity from the moment you sign up with the company is logged. from the moment you sign up with the company is logged. Palm Bay still has not decided with the company is logged. Palm Bay still has not decided whether or not they will turn Palm Bay still has not decided whether or not they will turn the cameras back on after the whether or not they will turn the cameras back on after the investigation. And we did ask the cameras back on after the investigation. And we did ask palm Bay PD for an official investigation. And we did ask palm Bay PD for an official copy of the policy of how palm Bay PD for an official copy of the policy of how officers here in palm Bay are copy of the policy of how officers here in palm Bay are trained to use flock. We also officers here in palm Bay are trained to use flock. We also asked for any auditing that’s trained to use flock. We also asked for any auditing that’s been done since 2021 on the asked for any auditing that’s been done since 2021 on the systems. We are still waiting been done since 2021 on the systems. We are still waiting for those documents. Reporting