Sheriff-Elect McFarland addresses Flock camera safeguards before Marshall County Commissioners

Detective Les McFarland, who will become Marshall County Sheriff after the November election, addressed the County Commissioners and audience during a special meeting Tuesday on the Flock camera system, acknowledging public concerns while outlining steps already taken to safeguard its use.

McFarland said the Flock camera system has been a useful tool for Marshall County in many ways but said he understands the public's concerns about safeguards for use by officers and the vendor, and about balancing public safety benefits with protections against abuse.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Department has initiated protocols to address those concerns, including standard operating procedures and recent audits of the system's use by civilians and merit officers with the Sheriff's Department. McFarland said the department has stopped the nationwide and out-of-state search use of the county cameras.

"I believe that there should be a balance between public transparency and public safety," McFarland told the commissioners. "In moving into the role of Marshall County Sheriff, I have many questions to get answered along with concerns moving forward. I would appreciate the opportunity to establish more policies and procedures, get more questions answered with the Prosecutor's Office that are agreeable to the Commissioners, the Council, and the public to restrict data collection, and audit proper use of the system by all users and the vendor."

McFarland provided the commissioners with a copy of the department's Standard Operating Procedures, which indicate that an inquiry into the LPR system requires a legitimate law enforcement purpose and must be documented in a CAD and/or case report. The CAD or case number must be entered into the LPR system for the inquiry. Access to the Flock system is restricted to Marshall County Sheriff's Department employees whose official duties require it.

McFarland indicated he plans to work with the Prosecutor's Office, the Commissioners, the County Council, and the public to further refine policies and procedures governing the system's use.