The City of Palm Bay is immediately suspending its FLOCK automated license plate reader camera system after a preliminary review found the cameras may not have been properly permitted or installed by the system’s vendor.
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay is immediately suspending its FLOCK automated license plate reader camera system after a preliminary review found the cameras may not have been properly permitted or installed by the system’s vendor.
The Palm Bay City Council directed city staff to investigate the installation of the city’s FLOCK automated license plate reader, or LPR, system following concerns regarding the placement and construction of the cameras.
As part of the review, Palm Bay City Manager Matthew Morton determined the cameras may not have been properly permitted or installed by FLOCK Safety, the system’s vendor, as required by the city.
In response, Morton and Palm Bay Police Chief Jeff Spears agreed to immediately suspend the LPR/FLOCK system and all associated cameras while the city completes a comprehensive review.
City officials said the system will be taken offline and the physical cameras will be hooded to provide residents with a visible indication that they have been deactivated and are not operating.
“This City Council is committed to trust, transparency and accountability, and they have consistently demonstrated that,” Morton said. “When questions are raised about a system that affects public safety and public confidence, we have an obligation to stop, examine the facts and make sure everything has been done properly.”
Morton said the city’s preliminary review raised enough concerns to warrant immediate action.
“In this case, our preliminary review determined that the cameras may not have been properly permitted or installed by the vendor,” Morton said. “We have therefore taken immediate action to suspend the system.”
The decision was supported by Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina, Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe and Councilmembers Mike Hammer, Kenny Johnson and Chandler Langevin.
City officials said staff have been directed to ensure the entire system remains offline while the review of the cameras’ permitting and installation continues.
Automated license plate reader systems use cameras to capture license plate information that can assist law enforcement in investigations, including efforts to locate stolen vehicles and vehicles associated with criminal activity.
Palm Bay officials did not immediately announce how long the review is expected to take or when the cameras could potentially return to service.
“We are not going to ask residents to simply trust that everything is working as it should,” Morton said. “We are going to demonstrate it through transparency, accountability, and action.”
Morton added that the cameras and their use will remain suspended throughout the review. Once the investigation is complete, city staff will present its findings and any recommendations to the Palm Bay City Council for consideration.
