About 75 people turned out May 14 for a Columbia Heights town hall on proposed Flock cameras and drone technology, with many residents raising concerns about privacy, data sharing and trust in law enforcement.
The town hall was hosted by the city and Anoka County Commissioner Mandy Meisner. Columbia Heights Police Chief Matt Markham, Lt. Anthony Mendoza and Anoka County Chief Deputy Bill Jacobson attended and answered questions from residents.
Markham, Mendoza and Jacobson said they understood many of the concerns about data privacy and Flock, a Georgia-based company, but said the technology could help police respond to emergencies and solve serious crimes, including homicides and assaults…