The Evansville City Council has approved a 2027 budget including funds to keep Flock Safety cameras for city police. WNIN’s John Gibson has more:
All eight Democrats on the council voted for the budget, despite privacy concerns over the license plate-reading system.
Democratic Councilor Paul Green asked Police Chief Phil Smith if the EPD shares Flock data with federal immigration enforcement.
Smith says the department works with some federal agencies:
"FBI, ATF are some of those agencies. But we do not share information as it pertains to immigration."
Democratic Councilor Rita Taylor expressed reservations:
"On one hand, it completely pains me that we've gotten to this place that we need that surveillance because the people that I serve and the people that I love are targeted using that surveillance. On the other hand, I want to be safe."
Republican Angela Koehler Lindsey cast the only vote against the budget over concerns about casino revenue and the new city-run ambulance service.
