The use of Flock cameras and concerns about the Google Data Center dominated the June 16 Fort Wayne City Council meeting.<\/p>\n
A presentation by Flock Safety representative Holly Beilin gave council an overview of the license plate readers (LPRs) that the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) currently use.<\/p>\n
According to a Facebook post, Beilin serves as chief of staff to the chief communications officer at Flock Safety.<\/p>\n
The 411 on LPRs<\/p>\n
License plate readers (LPRs) focus on the back of vehicles and the license plates. They compare the license plate to those in national and state crime databases using realtime alerts, Beilin said. For example, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has a list of known wanted vehicles. It alerts local law enforcement if a vehicle is detected as stolen, associated with a known wanted offender or a missing person, she said.<\/p>\n
Software on LPRs categorize certain vehicle characteristics like the make, model, color, and certain aftermarket effects such as the addition of a roof rack.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all really helpful for law enforcement who are investigating crime,\u201d Beilin said.<\/p>\n
For example, it could help when a detective has a hit-and-run case where the victim doesn\u2019t remember the entire license plate but remembers the vehicle was a silver sedan with a roofrack.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement can access the system looking for silver sedans with a roof rack that were in the area at the time. That information and actual images can hopefully identify the vehicle in question, she said.<\/p>\n
Every search requires a case number and a standardized offense type such as homicide or hit and run.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s really important because every search conducted in the system is saved in an immutable, unchangeable audit record \u2026 Regular audits make sure that the system is being used for what it is intended to be used for,\u201d Beilin said.<\/p>\n
Beilin cited widespread collaboration with the Flock system.<\/p>\n
Roughly three out of four agencies conduct regional collaboration using the Flock Safety system, she said.<\/p>\n
FWPD Flock overview<\/p>\n
The FWPD Transparency Portal outlines Flock policies and usage. This includes:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Using the Flock Safety Operating System to capture objective evidence without compromising individual privacy.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Using retroactive searches to solve crimes<\/p>\n
\u2022 Using real time alerts of hotlist vehiclesThe portal also lists a network of law enforcement agencies where information is bothshared and received.FWPD Flock policies include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Only license plates and vehicles are detected<\/p>\n
\u2022 Facial recognition, people, gender, and race are not detected<\/p>\n
\u2022 Data is used for law enforcement purposes only<\/p>\n
\u2022 Data is owned by FWPD and is never sold to third parties.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Prohibited uses include immigration enforcement, speed enforcement, harassment, orintimidation based solely on a protected class such as race, sex, and religion<\/p>\n
\u2022 Personal use is also prohibited.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hotlist hits require human verification prior to action.<\/p>\n
FWPD usage statistics include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Data is retained for 180 days<\/p>\n
\u2022 The number of LPR cameras is 44<\/p>\n
Besides Flock cameras specific to Fort Wayne, Beilin shared that other Flock hardware and software that is available nationwide.<\/p>\n
Flock overview<\/p>\n
Flock is a suite of hardware and software. It includes:<\/p>\n
\u2022 License plate recognition cameras (LPRs)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Audio crime detection sensors<\/p>\n
\u2022 Traditional video surveillance cameras<\/p>\n
\u2022 Drones as first responders (DFR)\u201cCommunities can have one of these tools. They can have two, three or all of these tools,\u201d Beilin said.<\/p>\n
For example, some communities may have a gun violence problem and really need the audio crime sensors that help detect gunshots, she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, other communities may have a problem in their parks and need traditional video cameras, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really customizable based on what each individual community wants,\u201d Beilin said.<\/p>\n
In other matters<\/p>\n
Council voted 8-0 to hold G-26-06-31.pdf. This is a general resolution creating a DataCenter & Community Quality of Life+ Task Force for the City of Fort Wayne.<\/p>\n
According to Russ Jehl, R-2nd, the purpose of the task force is to provide recommendations to the mayor, city council, and city departments on quality of life and environmental issues from local data center developments.<\/p>\n
Jehl expressed concerns over unanswered questions that prompted him to draft this resolution and two other related resolutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want something \u2026 where we no longer ignore the questions, but that we address them,\u201d Jehl said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, language in the proposed resolution includes \u201cthe task force \u2026 acting as a point of contact for residents to receive information regarding their data center related questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a high likelihood that at some point another data center might want to come here.<\/p>\n
The existing data center might even want to expand past its existing footprint. We should have a group that is vigilant and active in shaping this policy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jehl cited three reasons for introducing the resolution.<\/p>\n
These include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Addressing concerns some people have about \u201cforever chemicals\u201d Google might be putting in the city\u2019s water, as well as, getting answers to other frequently asked questions<\/p>\n
\u2022 Growing skepticism about Project Zodiac and the data center<\/p>\n
\u2022 The impact one of the largest economic development projects in the community has on other businesses considering locating in Fort Wayne<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it\u2019s something this large, it has the ability to shape our community\u2019s reputation for other businesses as they look to locate here,\u201d Jehl said.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of Jehl\u2019s presentation, Jonathan Leist, director of Community Development, responded to what he called, \u201csome factual errors\u201d in the resolutions.<\/p>\n
No \u2018forever chemicals\u2019<\/p>\n
Leist addressed Jehl\u2019s concern about \u201cforever chemicals\u201d entering city water.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe answer is, \u2018no.\u2019 I want to just make that super clear\u2026 they\u2019re not putting \u201cforever chemicals\u201d back into our waters,\u201d Leist said. Adding, \u201cCity Utilities will be testing on that, like they do any other wastewater entering their stream.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, Jehl introduced two other resolutions regarding the Google Data Center.<\/p>\n
\u2022 R-26-06-32.pdf is a resolution requesting information concerning the Google abatement and the Economic Development Agreement.<\/p>\n
Council voted 8-0 to table R-26-06-32.pdf. Jehl also presented R-26-06-33.pdf. The resolution requests the director of Community Development to report the use of funds accrued by the sale of land for ProjectZodiac\/Google.<\/p>\n
Council voted 4-4 to table R-26-06-33.pdf. Because it was a tie vote the motion to table failed, and Jehl then withdrew the resolution.<\/p>\n
To view the FWPD Transparency Portal on Flock policies and usage go to https:\/\/transparency.flocksafety.com\/fort-wayne-in-pd<\/a>-.<\/p>\n