‘I am speechless’: Police used fake Flock camera, Oviedo mayor says
OVIEDO, Fla. —
The mayor of Oviedo on Friday posted to social media that she had no idea her city’s police department had used a fake Flock camera.
“I am speechless,” Mayor Megan Sladek said on Facebook. “I spoke to the city manager and he confirmed the City of Oviedo – Police Department did, in fact, put up a fake Flock camera, then kept a close eye on it until someone came and cut it down.”
>> Video above: Oviedo residents push to end Flock cameras over ‘inaccuracy’ and ‘misuse’ concerns
Flock cameras have become controversial, with some cities working to ban them after community outrage
“I do not know who paid for the decoy. As soon as I know more, I will share it with you. Transparency is so important. #LoveOviedo,” she said.
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Recent pushback
Residents in Oviedo attended a city council meeting Monday night to discuss the city’s use of eight Flock license plate reader cameras. Many of them pushed back on the cameras.
“These cameras should not be allowed throughout our beloved city,” one resident said during the public comment session.
Another resident added, “I would like council to make it impossible for Oviedo Police to abuse the system by no longer having it here.”
At least one resident supported the cameras, saying, “Keep the Flock cameras. I want the security.”
The discussion was added to the council’s agenda after a resident raised concerns about the cameras during an earlier council meeting.
>> Related: Oviedo to take closer look at Flock cameras amid privacy concerns
The Oviedo Police Department presented information on how the cameras are used and regulated, including weekly audits, training for authorized users, and restrictions on their use to specific types of investigations.
The city council decided to invite a representative from Flock to an upcoming work session to address these concerns. A resolution to discontinue the use of the cameras will be considered at a subsequent council meeting on Sept. 10.
Chief Dale Coleman of the Oviedo Police Department spoke with WESH 2 News after those decisions were made.
“A little bit of a concern, but I think we could have done a better job of explaining what Flock actually does with the data and how the data is used and what Flock is looking at doing in the future,” Coleman said. “But I think we’ll get those answers taken care of at the work session.”
>> This is a developing story and will be updated