Pocatello City Council hears from police about procedures for Flock Cameras
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Flock cameras have sparked debate across the country, with residents concerned their data may be released out of their control. As part of the Pocatello City Council’s work session agenda today, they heard from the Pocatello Police Department and a representative from Flock about the purpose of using the camera system.
Back in 2024, the Pocatello Police Department conducted evaluations of several different vendors for license plate tracking technology, inlcuding Neuology, Motorola, Rekor and Flock Safety. With specific factors in mind like cost, installation of the camera system and the plans to continually improve and update the technology, Pocatello Police chose to sign a contract with Flock.
There are several major concerns the public has voiced with license plate reading cameras, including their true abilities.
“We do not have facial recognition. We cannot find the driver with these cameras. We do not track cell phones. We do not issue speeding tickets or red light ticket citations. We do not record conversations. This does not replace our investigation or discretion.”
– Captain Zac Bartschi
Rather than replacing officers’ work, Chief Schei refered to Flock cameras as a “multiplier” to their task force and a tool to more efficiently track data. They added it helps with investigation and has already helped in numerous stolen vehicle and hit-and-run cases.
The department also read off several success stories from using the Flock cameras, the first being in 2024 right after installation and police caught a vehicle in a road accident. Captain Bartschi said the technology captured the “perfect image of that crime as it occured.”
Council member Brent Nichols had concerns over exactly what the Flock cameras capture, including vehicle make, model and license plates.
“Other distinguishable features could be a roof rack or a bike rack on a car, things like that. It gives officers the ability to say, hey, I’m investigating this, it was an accident and there was a red car that left the scene with a roof rack,” Captain Bartschi said. The system helps give and find leads for investigations in road cases.
Another major concern with the Flock cameras is their potential to store data about residents. Pocatello Police officers want to ensure everyone that their data is completely private.
“We just want to emphasize that no law enforcement, we never sell anything,” Chief Schei said. ” It’s also deleted after 30 days.” The data is only kept with the police department if an officer uses a Flock data point in an official report. That information may be stored forever. However, if it is never saved as evidence for a report, the data is gone within 30 days.
The Pocatello police Department has also specifically turned off the “nationwide network” connected to Flock as of about two months ago according to Chief Schei. “Other agencies are going to have to make the request with the reason and case number attached to it to access our data,” he said.
They ensured the Council they will verify each request for validity before releasing anything captured by Pocatello Flock cameras. Council member Ann Swanson asked the panel if ICE were to come asking if they would have the same procedure.
“We have searched zero times for just immigration purposes. If ICE calls us, they have something like a criminal tied to it, like a person has a warrant out for their arrest,” Chief Schei said. “That case becomes criminal and we could search for that.”
The only national agencies connected to Pocatello Flock cameras are the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI. Police also explained their “regional partners” in the western United States can collaborate with other cities’ Flock cameras to catch suspects or criminals that cross state lines.
As of today, those regional partners have to put in the crime and anything involved with the case they’re investigating to follow the Pocatello system guidelines. Other agencies from states across the country such as Florida have to call Pocatello Police and ask for express permission to access any Flock data.
A representative from Flock was also present at today’s work session meeting to answer questions from the City Council. Even though Pocatello already has a contract with Flock, the company made it clear that amendments are possible.
“Every city has the right, we want to make sure that we oblige by whatever standards you guys would like to have here,” said Sheerica Ware Wilkins with Flock Safety. “We’re happy to have different language, it’s the standard operating procedure.”
The council asked multiple specific questions to Wilkins about the contract document. She ensured that Flock isn’t pulling Pocatello-specific data from the system, rather, “metadata” which is what attaches to a location and a time.
“We’re using that to improve our ability in distinguishing between a Toyota Camry versus another Toyota, just so we keep the data for the technology so we can provide the best system in place,” Wilkins said. “The city has its own data. This section is only exclusively active as long as the data has been fully stripped of any individual pieces.”
The Council was mostly concerned about the disclosure of such information taken from Pocatello Flock cameras. Wilkins said there are legal cases in which Flock will verify a request and find data to assist. Council member Bates expressed his discomfort with Flock sharing any information from their database with a third party interest without the city’s permission. The contract can be amended to accomodate Pocatello’s concerns.
Wilkins also explained each person at Flock Safety with access to the system is fully trained and CGIS compliant. Pocatello Police echoed that every officer with access has completed the training and undergoes quarterly audits. The only people permitted are sworn in dispatch officials.
Pocatello Police added they are aware of misuse in other jurisdictions and are fully prepared to strip licenses and pursue consequences for any officer that misuses the technology. Thanks to the audits, rules for training and constant regulation of the Flock system in Pocatello, Chief Schei does not anticipate a misuse situation ever happening.
Finally, Captain Bartschi went over some of the recent successes of Flock Safety in our area.
“A 71-year old local man was arrested after touching a 16-year-old girl, sexual abuse,” Captain Bartschi stated. “And a 13-year-old girl was entered into the NCIC as an endangered runaway. She was found in Chubbuck.”
There was also a dementia patient who escaped in the middle of the night and located in Nevada thanks to Flock. Chief Schei even mentioned the U of I murders case and said that Flock technology could’ve helped catch Bryan Kohberger far sooner.
The Pocatello City Council wondered if the crimes solved by Flock cameras outweigh the cost and public outrage for the technology. Chief Schei said they will continue to reevaluate the system and adjust their procedures as they continue to receive public input.
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