The Moore County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to create a committee to more closely examine the county’s use of Flock cameras, automated license plate readers. The decision was made amid ongoing concerns from residents about privacy, surveillance, and the technology’s impact on the county’s military community.
The Moore County Flock Camera Committee will include board members, a representative from the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, and citizens.
The initial appointments include Commissioner Kurt Cook, Sheriff’s Office representative Chief Deputy Eric Galloway, and several citizen members.
Chairman Nick Picerno said the committee would give residents an opportunity to raise concerns and allow the board to examine the technology firsthand.
The committee plans to conduct an on-site demonstration of a Flock camera and review what information the system collects and how law enforcement can use it. Picerno said the goal is to address residents’ questions and provide more information to the public. He said the board would consider ending the program if the committee’s review confirmed the concerns raised by residents.
Several residents spoke against the cameras during the public comment period.
Residents raised concerns about the potential tracking of military personnel and their families, particularly because of Moore County’s military population. Other speakers questioned whether the benefits of the cameras outweigh the privacy concerns.
One resident said local law enforcement had explained how the system works at previous meetings but argued that the county had not demonstrated enough benefit to justify what she described as an invasion of privacy.
Residents also cited concerns about the use of Flock data by law enforcement officers in other jurisdictions and argued that stored camera information could allow authorities to reconstruct a person’s movements over time.
Vice Chairman Jim Von Canon defended the cameras, pointing to cases in Moore County involving the deaths of two military special operations personnel. He said suspects in those cases were identified quickly using a combination of Flock cameras, gas station surveillance, and private security cameras.
The discussion also touched on the technology’s use of artificial intelligence and whether it could be used to identify individuals beyond reading license plates. Picerno said those questions would be part of the committee’s review.
Picerno said the committee would meet soon and that residents who raised concerns would have an opportunity to present their evidence.
“If it comes true that what you’re saying is true in Moore County,” Picerno said, “I will vote to get rid of the Flock cameras.”
The committee’s work will determine what recommendations, if any, commissioners consider regarding the county’s Flock camera program.
Photo via Flock Safety.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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