Editor’s note: The following article includes highlights from documents made available to local media by the city of Warsaw. To read the entire Q&A, scroll down to the link after the second paragraph. Other related documents will be posted separately.
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose, with the support of Kosciusko County law enforcement, has responded to a media request with 20 pages on the local use of Flock Cameras.
Over the course of 18 questions, Grose and his office put forth a rationale behind the use of license plate reader technology, how it began in Kosciusko County, and several examples that underscore how important the devices have become in police work.
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Click here for the entire Flock Camera Q&A provided by Warsaw City Hall.
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The documents also shed light on the fact that nearly a dozen area cameras have been damaged, that the county Flock Committee is looking at policy changes and that authorities do not consider the use of Flock Cameras to be part of a “mass surveillance” effort.
The answers, fact sheets and other information were supported by numerous officials, including some members of the Flock committee, Grose said earlier this week.
Release of the documents was prompted by questions from News Now Warsaw a few weeks ago after concerns about Flock camera policies began to surface across Kosciusko County and other parts of the country.
It also comes before Kosciusko County Council, which has raised concerns with the technology, will host a meeting on the subject on Sept. 10 at the courthouse.
The devices, often referred to as ALPRs (Automated License Plate Readers), have come under increasing scrutiny by those who say the use of the cameras by police are a violation of privacy.
In a cover letter with the packet, Grose said he was first updated on the use of Flock Safety cameras in the fall of 2023 and said he has “supported the responsible use of Flock Safety cameras as a valuable tool for our WPD law enforcement officers.”
“The state and federal courts, along with our state legislators, will also determine the appropriate use of this law enforcement tool in our county, state, and country. Our belief in the principles of Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances in our Federal System of Government is certainly at work related to the specific use of this law enforcement tool,”
Grose said in the cover letter.
Grose said he viewed the release of documents and answers to questions as a “good faith effort” to keep the community informed.
“A lot of effort went into every word that we put in there to be transparent and honest,” Grose said.
In the first question, officials touted the benefits of Flock Cameras, saying the Flock system has proven to be a valuable public-safety tool for law enforcement throughout Kosciusko County.
“This technology has assisted officers in locating missing children and wanted individuals, recovering stolen vehicles and equipment taken from local businesses, investigating property damage, and developing leads in serious incidents, including cases involving shots fired.”
Warsaw police credit the cameras with 133 arrests and the clearing of 292 cases. That includes the recovery of nine vehicles and three guns, according to the documents.
“Numerous arrests and successful case resolutions have been directly aided by information obtained through the Flock system. These results demonstrate the value of having this technology available in our communities. The Flock system provides law enforcement with another effective investigative resource that can help officers respond more quickly, identify potential suspects or vehicles, recover stolen property, and ultimately better protect and serve the citizens of Kosciusko County.”
Some of the highlights:
Authorities were asked whether they are considering policy changes.
“The Flock Committee is implementing a requirement that all law enforcement agencies and government participating agencies wishing to access the cameras within our county must have a policy governing authorized use, access, and accountability. Failure to acknowledge these policy standards would disqualify an entity from having access to our ALPR cameras.”
How many Flock cameras are local police ae using?
“Our local government program currently includes 30 standard cameras, two portable cameras, and one Condor camera (intersection camera). In addition, local businesses have three privately owned cameras within our county. The privately owned cameras are separate from the government-owned device count.”
Have any of the devices been damaged?
“Yes. To date, we have had 10 cameras damaged in our area. Damage or destruction of another person’s property is illegal. The Flock Committee will work with the Prosecutor’s Office to actively pursue those who have intentionally damaged the cameras and/or equipment. We encourage any person who has questions or concerns about Flock technology and the use of it in our community to contact the Flock Committee’s public relations representative at 574-372-9515.”
Have there been instances of documented misuse of the cameras?
“The Flock Committee has established auditing procedures which monitor any misuse of the Flock system by local law enforcement and government participating agencies. Several years ago, during the introduction and use of our Flock system by the participating agencies, one instance of misuse was identified and quickly addressed. As with any tool used by law enforcement, having clear policies, effective auditing oversight, and providing adequate training is a high priority. All trained and authorized Flock users are accountable for their search history and use of the system.”
What is the cost per device and how long is the current contract?
The current lease and use of the software is approximately $2,500 per ALPR device and $3,000 for the Condor (intersection camera) each year. The current agreement is a five-year contract that began in January 2024. This five-year contract provides camera maintenance and protects the cost(s) from rising until 2030.
In partnership with the county, the Warsaw Police Department has paid to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office: $10,000 in 2023; $25,000 in 2024; $30,000 in 2025 & 2026. The fund used to pay for the twelve cameras the city is responsible for is account 1101-006-310.000 (Professional Services).
Are there data retention limits?
“We are aware of Flock’s recent release regarding their 7-day data retention policy. Our current data retention is 30 days, and we will be reviewing this with the Committee … Law enforcement agencies retain ownership and control of all ALPR data stored within the Flock system and vendors are not permitted to own or sell that information.”
Do the devices use artificial intelligence?
“We would encourage you to refer to Flock’s product description via their website to inquire about the products specifically. We do use an AI-assisted audit tool within their system that is designed to identify patterns that may indicate possible misuse. ALPR technology is not mass surveillance. It is a policy-controlled investigative tool governed by retention limits, auditing, authorized uses, and accountability.”
The documents also include a proposal from the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police calling for statewide standards that Grose and would like to see established.
Officials also provided a list of departments responsible for specific cameras. Warsaw oversees 12, and the county oversees ten. The prosecutor’s office oversees five. Net 43, the drug investigation team, has two. Winona Lake, Silver Lake and Tippecanoe Township each have one.
