We All Want the Same Thing
Maybe the Flock debate doesn't have to be an “us versus them” issue. I believe most of us want the same things: a safe community, protection for our families, respect for privacy, and responsible use of our tax dollars.
I believe we can find a middle ground.
• Keep the Flock cameras we already have. We already have a contract and are paying for the service. Let's use what we have before asking taxpayers to pay for another system.
• Recognize what these cameras can do. We've recently seen Flock information connected to a Plymouth child-abduction case and a search for a missing elderly woman with Alzheimer's. When a baby, teenager, or grandmother is missing, having another tool to help find them can matter.
• Protect privacy. Put guardrails in place: limit data retention, restrict access, audit searches, and hold anyone who misuses the system accountable.
We already use technology that can track our location — our cell phones, internet-connected devices and dashboard cameras. That doesn't mean we should ignore privacy. It means we should use these tools responsibly.
Flock is simply another tool law enforcement can legally use when someone's safety is at risk. If my child or grandchild disappeared, I would want every reasonable tool available to help bring them home.
Maybe the answer isn't simply keep Flock or get rid of it. Maybe we keep it, protect privacy, measure the results, and reassess it in six months or when the contract expires.
This decision affects all of us, and it deserves a thoughtful, respectful community conversation. Please join your neighbors at the meeting Tuesday, October 6, at 6:00 p.m. Come prepared to listen, ask questions, share your concerns, and help shape practical safeguards.
Whether you support Flock, oppose it, or are still deciding, your perspective belongs in the discussion.
Let's make this more than a debate. Let's work together on a policy that protects public safety, respects privacy, and reflects the values of our community. Bring a neighbor, invite someone with a different viewpoint, and make sure our elected officials hear from the people they serve.
At the end of the day, we're neighbors. And when someone we love needs to be found, we all want the same thing: to bring them home.
Robin Meyers
Plymouth, IN
