The County of Monterey Sheriff's Office walked back their request to expand from 63 to 103 Flock cameras at the Sept. 22 Board of Supervisor's meeting.
The Sheriff's Office received public backlash when they originally asked for the supervisors to approve a nearly $2.8 million contract and addition of 40 Flock cameras to their existing 63, located in unincorporated areas of the county.
According to the Sept. 22 Board of Supervisor's agenda, the Sheriff's Department reduced the contract to $1.7 million over the course of 10 years to maintain 63 existing cameras.
Commander Scott Davis, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office, confirmed that the Sheriff's Office was requesting a maintenance of the cameras rather than an expansion, and declined to comment on why the change occurred.
Founding member of PG Progressives and Get the Flock Out Monterey County, Colleen Ingram, says that she doesn't see the reduction in the contract as a positive change because it still maintains existing Flock cameras, which she saw as infringing upon the constitutional rights of residents.
“I don’t think we should be happy about this,” Ingram says. “It’s just a way of getting a yes for mass surveillance.”
County of Monterey District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni signaled her support for Flock and automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in a press release Monday Sept. 21, saying that it was an "indispensable tool" for solving crime, but that it also raised questions over privacy and oversight.
Flock cameras and the Sheriff's Office have come under fire for data from Flock cameras being illegally shared with out-of-state agencies.
The County of Monterey is not currently paying for its use of Flock cameras, as the Sheriff's Office's agreement with Flock expired at the end of July. However, the company has continued to provide its services for free until a contract has been agreed upon.
The item will be heard Tuesday Sept. 22, at 1:30pm in the Board Chambers at 168 W. Alisal St. in Salinas.
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