Plymouth seeks to add more Flock cameras

PLYMOUTH, N.C. (WITN) - The Plymouth Town Council is being asked to decide Monday night whether to add more Flock cameras to the town.

Plymouth Police Chief Louis Banks says the town was awarded $325,000 through a federal Community Project Funding grant in 2024, when they initially installed 28 Flock cameras. They want to add eight more, bringing the total to 36.

Banks says the expansion is part of the funding they already received.

Banks says, “Flock Safety cameras are an investigative tool that helps law enforcement identify vehicles associated with criminal activity, recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, and develop investigative leads in violent and property crime cases. They are not intended to monitor residents’ daily activities or record people. Instead, they capture vehicle information that can be lawfully used during criminal investigations.”

He goes on to say, “For a department the size of the Plymouth Police Department, this technology serves as a force multiplier by extending our investigative capabilities and helping officers solve crimes more efficiently while maximizing limited personnel resources. Our goal is to continue using proven technology responsibly to enhance public safety and better protect the residents, businesses, and visitors of Plymouth.”

The City of Greenville recently said it would be installing 10 Flock cameras.

Police say in April 2024, Flock cameras were used to identify a vehicle connected to a homicide in Greenville, with the suspect later located and arrested.

Jacksonville, Kinston, and New Bern say their police departments do not use Flock cameras.

Lenoir County says they have 16 Flock cameras that were installed last September.

Onslow County has a contract with Plate Ranger that began in March with 12 cameras throughout the county.

In Craven County, an investigation is underway after deputies say a Flock camera was stolen in Havelock.