Palm Bay officials have suspended the city's Flock automated license plate reader system following a permitting review that found the cameras may not have been properly installed or permitted. Mayor Rob Medina said the suspension is not linked to constitutional concerns but stems from a city policy review. The city's 16 Flock cameras, operational for five years, are now offline pending resolution of the permitting process.
The review began about two weeks ago after the Palm Bay City Council directed staff to investigate the camera system's installation. Concerns arose about the placement and construction of the devices, according to Medina. City Manager Matthew Morton concluded the cameras may not have met permitting requirements set by Flock Safety, the company that provides the system.
Medina emphasized the city's commitment to accountability. 'We have to hold Flock accountable regarding those permitting processes,' he said. The mayor hopes to meet with Flock representatives as early as next week to address the issues. 'We're going to see how we can expedite this process,' Medina added.
Lance Fisher, a former deputy chief with the Palm Bay Police Department, initially supported the 2021 agreement to use Flock technology. Fisher signed off on the police department's services contract but said his view of the system has evolved. He did not elaborate further in the report.
The city plans to resume use of the cameras once permitting is resolved. Medina warned that without the system, law enforcement could face challenges during a major emergency. 'We can't have that as a crime-solving tool,' he said.