The Taylorville Police Department is seeking to reassure the public over its use of “Flock” cameras.  These devices are designed to monitor roadways and collect visible information of vehicles they observe.  TPD and other agencies have justified the use of Flock cameras, saying they assist with finding people wanted for suspected crimes and protecting those in danger.  The devices have, however, been the subject of controversies in recent years.  Concerns around license plate detection errors, data collection, and more have led to campaigns and proposed legislation to end their use.

Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler defends the use of these cameras by his department.  He says his staff input the details of a vehicle relevant to an incident into the system, which can then alert officers if it detects the vehicle. 

Chief Wheeler also spoke on worries that officers may use the cameras and the information they collect for their personal purposes.  He says department policies around access ensure this cannot happen. 

More information on the Taylorville Police Department is available at www.taylorville.net/police-dept. 

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.