Vandals take down cameras in Avon, prompting discussion on Flock Safety contract
The short version: Someone in Avon, Colorado took matters into their own hands against Flock Safety cameras, and now the town council actually has to talk about the contract it signed.
Our Take
CBS Colorado reports that Flock Safety cameras in Avon got torn down, and suddenly the town council is having the conversation residents should've gotten before the cameras went up: what exactly did we sign, who's watching, and why. Funny how vandalism does more to force a public hearing than months of public comment ever seem to.
We don't endorse destroying property, but we're not surprised people are frustrated. Flock's pitch to small towns is always the same — automatic plate readers will catch the bad guys, no one else needs to worry. What towns rarely get told upfront is how long that data sits, who else can query it outside city limits, and how little oversight exists once the contract is signed. Avon residents are learning that lesson in real time, and the fact that it's not being asked politely anymore says something about how invisible these decisions usually are.
If your town has Flock cameras and you didn't get a real conversation before they went in, you're not alone — check our map to see what's already been deployed near you, and hit up take-action for ways to push your council toward transparency before it takes a wire cutter to get their attention.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of CBS Colorado, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.