TULSA, Okla. – The City of Tulsa is using technology to solve crime and to keep people safe. Once again, the system of Flock cameras is causing concern as questions arise about how it is used.
Councilor’s Comments and Concern
City Councilor Laura Bellis voiced concern about the possibility of camera access—and how it is shared.
“I said, I knew that we had to grant other access,” Bellis explained, after a recent social media post and media coverage, where she questioned Tulsa’s Flock cameras—and access the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office might have.
“I’m not sure if at any time that includes the Sheriff’s Office, which does have a 287 G contract, and that could, of course, create immigration enforcement concerns. But that was a curiosity. I was not trying to accuse or say that that’s actually what was playing out,” Bellis said to News On 6.
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Issues Response
“Contrary to allegations made in the media by Councilor Bellis, our camera system is not used to gather intel for ICE, nor does the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office participate in immigration enforcement. Our only agreement with ICE is the 287(g) program inside the jail.”
Tulsa Police Department Does Not Package Data to Share
“We only use flock for actual investigations,” said Captain Richard Meulenberg of the Tulsa Police Department…