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Flock cameras will triple in Irmo after the town agreed to pay nearly half a million dollars for the law enforcement tool.
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A contract was approved for 22 additional cameras — up from the 11 the town currently uses — with a $403,050 price tag. It passed with a 4-1 vote Tuesday night. Gabriel Penfield was the only council member to oppose the contract.
Some residents attending the meeting opposed the moved, while others supported it as a safety measure.
Irmo put out a news release last week, touting the benefits of the system, after community members expressed anxiety over an increase in surveillance.
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Flock cameras have become a popular tool for police departments across the country to gather data that could aid them in future investigations. They capture images of license plates and the rears of cars for officers to review.
The cameras do not use facial recognition technology or take pictures of drivers, a tool used by law enforcement, Irmo officials said.
“These cameras are not monitored to follow law-abiding citizens as they go about their daily lives,” the town said. “They are strictly investigative tools that help law enforcement quickly identify vehicles associated with crimes.”
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