Questions about Mt. Carmel's use of Flock license plate recognition cameras were addressed during this month’s WSJD's Ask the Mayor program.
Mayor Joe Judge was asked who authorized the cameras and whether the city plans to continue using them amid concerns about how information collected by the system can be used.
Judge said the cameras were originally brought before the City Council by former Mt. Carmel Police Chief Mike McWilliams and were approved by commissioners. Judge said he believes grant funding was used to help pay for the cameras.
According to Judge, Police Chief Erin Peach is currently the only person within the department with access to the city's Flock camera system.
Judge said he believes some of the concerns circulating online about the cameras are based on false information. He said Mt. Carmel has only been asked to review camera information on a couple of occasions and that the system has assisted another law enforcement agency in apprehending a murder suspect.
Judge acknowledged that some residents remain strongly opposed to the technology because of privacy concerns. He compared the cameras to privately owned doorbell cameras that routinely record activity along streets and sidewalks.
As for whether the cameras will remain in Mt. Carmel long-term, Judge said that decision will ultimately be up to the City Council when the city's current three-year contract expires, which he believes will be sometime in 2027 or 2028.