Soledad City Council moves forward with adding six Flock license plate reader cameras
SOLEDAD, Calif (KION-TV) - The City of Soledad is moving forward with an agreement to bring six Flock cameras to the city.
Officials said it’s meant to enhance their existing camera system, following several high-profile crimes in South Monterey County.
Soledad City Council approved an agreement Wednesday night for those six Flock cameras at key points around the city.
Soledad Police Chief Damon Wasson said this is meant to help not only their city, but also neighboring communities.
“If we have a crime here in Soledad, then we can input the information into the system, and anyone that's got a Flock camera that we've given access to, or that has access to our system, that will automatically pop up in their system," Wasson said.
Chief Wasson adds, they have been looking at integrating the city’s cameras with other South County departments for some time.
He points to the recent investigations surrounding the double homicide just outside Soledad and the King City mass shooting for the potential usefulness of these cameras.
“After the shootings down in King City, if we would have had our cameras set up at the Old Adobe out there, perhaps we could have caught that vehicle," Chief Wasson said.
During the Apr. 3 meeting, Soledad City Council approved $90,000 from the American Rescue Plan act to fund these cameras. The money will help fund the entire system and maintenance for five years.
"It's not a system to spy on people," Wasson said. "It's a system to help us if a crime is committed to make our communities safe."
The city also points to the successful use of Flock cameras in other cases in Salinas, Seaside, and Marina.
