Dear Editor, Flock Cameras, I know they are installed at the Grants Walmart Exit, McDonald’s, and the Pizza Hut on First Street.
Milan has three, one coming into town on the west end. at the school, the new chief wanted to watch for vehicles of registered sex offenders, and one coming into Milan from off railroad bridge.
The Cibola Sheriff’s Office and the state police have license plate readers inside their vehicles. The Navajo Reservation is getting them up as fast as they can, seems there are not enough officers working that covers 4 states.
So how much did Milan and Grants pay for these flock cameras? How many stolen vehicles or other wanted people got caught or tracked down by Grants? Are Grants Police going to put license plate readers in their vehicles? No citizen can gain access to these Flock Readers, only the police. Is the problem the Flock Cameras or the Police that use them?
Can we not trust local police not to abuse the Flock Cameras and to protect the community from criminals?
I saw a recent Face Book Post of a stolen Green Jeep in Grants; the owner was asking for help to find his jeep. I posted back to him the Flock cameras should have caught it if the local police put in into the nationwide police computer right away, he should ask them if they did. I guess if other vehicles get stolen and you will have to ask someone on Face Book for help you find your stolen car in Grants. I am sure being filmed in public you have no expectation of privacy, it’s called the 4th amendment, why worry about a camera taking a picture of your license plate if you did nothing wrong?
Signed, Mr. Harry Hall Retired USAF/Police-Sheriff Lt