Slaton mayor defends Flock camera agreement - fox34.com

The South Plains Auto Theft Task Force approached Slaton and the Slaton Police Department earlier this year about a Mutual Cooperation Agreement covering the installation and use of the cameras. The commission approved both the agreement and an accompanying resolution at its regular July 13 meeting, held in open session.

Shaw's statement emphasized that the vote was unanimous and that no one showed up to speak against it. That's a notable detail, because the mayor felt the need to issue a public defense of the arrangement after the fact, suggesting criticism surfaced somewhere after the meeting closed.

Flock cameras read license plates automatically and flag stolen vehicles or plates tied to warrants, a tool law enforcement agencies across the country have adopted with varying levels of community buy-in. The South Plains Auto Theft Task Force connection ties this to a regional effort, not just a local one.

A city of roughly 6,000 people approving a surveillance camera network without a single public comment against it, then watching its mayor have to explain the decision weeks later, is the kind of gap worth watching.