Cape Coral Police chief addresses use of Flock cameras

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)— Cape Coral’s Police chief addressed the use of controversial license plate readers after two of the department’s cameras might have been intentionally destroyed. 

The cameras, primarily manufactured by industry giant Flock Safety, go beyond traditional license plate tracking. Using artificial intelligence, they create a detailed ‘3D fingerprint’ of passing vehicles. Law enforcement officials say the cameras are an important tool to fight crime. But opponents argue they are an invasion of privacy. 

A nationwide movement against license plate readers have resulted in protests, vandalism, and the cancellation of Flock contacts. Now, Cape Coral Police said they’re looking into the destruction of two license plate readers at the intersection of Diplomat Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard. Police Chief Anthony Sizemore joined Daybreak with Jason Jones on 92.5 FOX News Monday morning. 

"You got an issue that is eliciting passion, which is good,” Sizemore said. "That's what our country is about. You can do that without committing vandalism or a crime.” 

Sizemore said the cameras have helped police solve homicides and find suicidal subjects. An Amber Alert in Marion County last week ended with the safe recovery of a kidnapped teenager. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said his deputies used such license plate readers to find the suspect. 

However, there have been reports of police officers being arrested and fired after allegedly misusing Flock cameras - including a Milwaukee Police officer who tracked his romantic partner. 

Sizemore said a limited number of trained people have access to the system. He said there is also a human audit. 

"if you use it correctly, it's a fantastic tool,” Sizemore said. "If you misuse it, that's an abuse. And abuses will be handled.”

Flock said data is deleted after 30 days and that customers own the data. Sizemore said the department doesn’t share or sell Flock camera data, including with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

Retired FBI agent Richard Kolko noted the data is accessible without a warrant or court order. He said courts will likely spend years establishing how the information can be legally used. 

“It tells everything about your care, not just a license plate,” Kolko previously told WINK Investigates. “It can come up with the make, model, color [and] dents in the car. That can make it very identifiable by not just police, but anyone who is looking for that vehicle.”

Sizemore said the department has been using license plate readers for over 10 years to solve crimes. 

"Nobody cares if Joyce is going to Aldi today, and I can't track Joyce to go to Aldi,” Sizemore said. "We're not surveilling people."