Sioux Falls Flock camera executive order. Is it time to get the Flock out of here?
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson is issuing an executive order that formalizes the police department’s policy regarding the use of license-plate reading cameras, better known by their brand-name, Flock cameras.
The announcement came Friday as local law enforcement defended their use of the cameras amid public pushback that the technology violates privacy and can invite misuse by officers.
City leaders hope the legislature will step in to create guardrails that agencies across South Dakota can follow.
The mayor’s executive order paves the way for the city’s Flock camera policy to serve as a model for the rest of South Dakota.
“Gives a little bit more teeth to it. Also gives us time to work with the current AG and the incoming AG to make sure we have the those appropriate guardrails in place,” Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson said.
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Law enforcement says the cameras’ ability to track license plates has resulted in several criminal arrests, including suspects tied to the disappearance and death of 14-year-old McKenna Wendel.
“The guarded use of ALPR technology in Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County and the state of South Dakota is one of the greatest crime-fighting tools holding offenders accountable that I have seen in my over 50 years of service,” Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead said.
But concerns that the cameras infringe on people’s privacy came up during last week’s city council budget meeting.
“A number of people in Sioux Falls have used their First Amendment to let us know that they do not agree with being watched. As an elected official, I owe it to these people to bring this forward,” Sioux Falls City Council member Sara Pankonin said last week.
A resolution to cut off funding for the cameras failed. The state’s attorney says the use of the cameras is constitutional.
“This is a technology that’s here, law enforcement has been using it. I haven’t seen a single case in Minnehaha County where it’s even been challenged,” Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar said.
There have been reports from across the country of officers misusing these Flock cameras. For instance, officers are checking the license plates of ex-significant others. But local law enforcement says that hasn’t happened here and that it would be very difficult to carry out.
“The way the computer systems are designed, you can see who’s been where and what they’ve touched. I can tell you, if you were going to some of the criminal activities that have been proposed, this would be the last system you would want to use because the audit would catch you very, very quickly,” Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum said.
There are currently 34 Flock cameras posted throughout the city. Thum says the information collected by the cameras is deleted after 30 days.
The city’s current contract with Flock expires next year. It will be up to the city council to decide whether the contract is renewed.
