The Town of Hillsborough has cancelled a contract with the company Flock Safety for 10 license plate reader cameras around the community, it said in a release Tuesday. The announcement comes after the town’s Board of Commissioners held a closed session Monday night to discuss “data privacy concerns” related to the cameras.

Earlier in the year, the town had entered into a two-year contract worth approximately $81,500 (accounting for installation and maintenance costs) with Flock Safety for cameras which take still images of a vehicle’s “distinguishing features,” including the license plate. The Hillsborough Police Department said it aimed to use the cameras for investigations related to missing persons and other cases.

Installation of the cameras around town began earlier in October, with five having been completed by the time the Board met Monday night. The five installed cameras will now be removed following the cancellation of the contract Tuesday. The town said that upon a “closer review” of the contract with Flock Safety, town leaders became concerned about certain language which could allow the company to disclose data to “any government entity or third party” if it felt the need to do so.

Hillsborough mayor Mark Bell and police chief Jason Winn released a joint statement about the contract’s cancellation, saying it was “in the best interests of our community to stop the installation and use” of the cameras.

“As we went through the installation process, we began learning more about the system, the company, and issues noted throughout the country, particularly concerns about data security,” the statement read. “Our job is to keep our community safe, and their privacy rights are of utmost concern… While this technology would provide benefits for police and community safety, we also have to weigh the potential negative impacts that the program may present to the community as a whole. We will look for new and other innovative programs and applications for our police department to continue our commitment to keeping Hillsborough a safe and prosperous community.”

Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, October 28, for his weekly Conversations With the Mayors radio interview to discuss these events.  You can listen to that full conversation here. 

 

Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Brighton McConnell

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
More than 38,000 Gallons of Untreated Sewage Spills into Unnamed Hillsborough Creek
The Town of Hillsborough responded to a discharge of untreated sewage into an unnamed creek Monday morning. The spill, which the town estimated at 38,400 gallons, is believed to have begun Saturday and has since been stopped. According to a town release, the spill began due to a fence post stuck in an eight-inch sewer […]
Hillsborough: Storm Anniversary and Impacts, NCDOT Projects and 18th Century Graves
Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, July 7.
Celebration of Independence Day to Alter Local Government Services in Orange County
The celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what typical services will and won’t be happening during the weekend: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday, July 3, as […]
Juneteenth Holiday to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County
Across the country on Friday, Black Americans and communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the national recognition of when the final slaves were freed in the 19th century and of African-American culture. As a holiday, government services around the Orange County community will be affected on June 19 and the surrounding days. Here’s what residents can […]
Garbage Collection, Local Transit and More: How Memorial Day Will Impact Local Services
The observation of Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will be closed. Residential trash will not be collected on Monday, with the make-up day […]
Hillsborough Bank Robbed, Police Seeking Unidentified Man
The Hillsborough Police Department is seeking a man who it says robbed a bank just after 9 a.m. Wednesday. Police say an unidentified man walked into the First National Bank at 237 South Churton Street and demanded money from the teller. He then left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries have been reported […]
Town of Hillsborough Sues Residents for Attracting Vultures, Violating Wildlife Ordinance
After receiving complaints about the presence of vultures around West Queen Street, the Town of Hillsborough is suing a pair of residents.
Hillsborough Police Arrests 3 Men in Child Exploitation Investigations
The Hillsborough Police Department arrested three men during the weekend following separate investigations into the solicitation of minors. Police have taken 36-year-old Timothy William (Bill) Armstrong of Hurdle Mills, 52-year-old Howard Anttwein Cox (Johnson) of Durham and 28-year-old Tyron Paul Smith of Woodleaf (a town in Union County) into custody. Armstrong and Smith were both […]
Local Municipal Offices to Close for Observance of Good Friday
Local government offices and services around the community will be closed to observe Good Friday on April 3. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill The Town of Chapel Hill’s government offices will be closed Friday, and some facilities will also be closed Easter Sunday, April 5. Residential trash collection […]
Police: Man Arrested, Another Injured After Disturbance in Hillsborough Friday
The Hillsborough Police Department has arrested a Graham man in connection with a disturbance involving a fight and a firearm Friday evening in Hillsborough. Police say they responded to the 200 block of Cheshire Drive at about 5:30 p.m. Friday with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, officers say they located multiple […]
›