Full transcript
For close to a year,
6 of these cameras scattered throughout Scamania County
have been a source of contention.
Some like it,
others don't.
I was kind of not a fan to see the flock cameras come into my own town,
especially right near my own house.
The big concern the camera is being used to track people and an invasion of privacy.
The sheriff's office says though that was never their use or intention
and said the only thing they could be used for were specific cases.
The deputies are required to have a case to justify
the search.
And there are 2,
and I will review that
every 3 months and to make sure that the justification is there.
Undersheriff
Tracy Wyckoff championed the idea
and used county funds and grant money to have them installed
for us.
Yes,
it's been successful,
he says.
They've been used to help solve crimes or locate a missing person.
The images were only available by request and approval to Washington agencies,
not federal and not the public,
but a recent Washington State Superior Court ruling changed everything.
Declaring that the flock camera images are public records,
that means anyone from anywhere can request them.
The concern with the public here is that
they feel like
their information is being exposed to us unnecessarily,
but now people can do records requests for any reason from anywhere
and get the same information we had,
and that's concerning to us because we're trying to keep this.
Information secure and safe.
The sheriff's office says the cameras have been turned
off but will remain in place for now.
Kate Bratash,
who lives at the east end of the county,
has been a vocal opponent since day one.
I'm often really worried that companies like Flock Safety are just looking
to use small communities like ours to get recurring revenue from,
that they don't really offer a service that is going to meet our needs,
and says
she's happy to see them turned off.
I am definitely very happy to see them turned off.
It's also a great opportunity for us to revisit together kind
of like what it is we expect from public safety,
but also from privacy and how we can guarantee that
to each other instead as members of the community.
The sheriff's office says the cameras will remain turned
off until and if the court ruling ever changes.
They also say that they'll remain in place until they're removed
once that contract with the company ends,
which is set to expire at the end of 2026.
In Stevenson,
I'm Devin Haskins,
KG News.