List and Map Shows Flock Cameras Are Everywhere in Missouri

You may not recognize the name, but you are likely familiar with flock cameras which are present in nearly every Missouri community. There is a map and a list of locations showing that mass surveillance is underway in Missouri and it has privacy groups concerned.

What is a flock camera?

A "flock camera" is another name for a specialized Automatic License Plate Reader. Law enforcement can use these devices to locate vehicles quickly which can be a very good thing when it involves capturing those fleeing from the law or for proper investigative purposes, but there are many who believe they can be used for nefarious purposes in the wrong hands.

I came across this map shared on the St. Louis, Missouri sub-Reddit not that long ago that documents how many flock cameras are in the greater St. Louis region alone.

Every blue dot is a Flock Safety license plate camera request across the STL region
by
u/PrivacyCoalitionMO in
StLouis

It doesn't stop there either. The Atlas of Surveillance lists these Missouri law enforcement departments as utilizing flock camera technology. Keep in mind that many of these departments operate dozens of flock cameras or have grants received to install new cameras imminently:

Audrain County Sheriff's Office - Mexico
Barry County Sheriff's Office - Cassville
Fulton Police Department - Fulton
Belton Police Department - Belton
Christian County Sheriff's Office - Ozark
Ozark Police Department - Ozark
Liberty Police Department - Liberty
Pleasant Valley Police Department - Pleasant Valley
Jefferson City Police Department - Jefferson City
Franklin County Sheriff's Office - Union
Union Police Department - Union
Washington Police Department - Washington
Ash Grove Police Department - Ash Grove
Republic Police Department - Republic
Grandview Police Department - Grandview
Oak Grove Police Department - Oak Grove
Raytown Police Department - Raytown
Sarcoxie Police Department - Sarcoxie
Joplin Police Department - Joplin
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office - Hillsboro
Crystal City Police Department - Crystal City
Festus Police Department - Festus
Byrnes Mill Police Department - House Springs
University Of Central Missouri Department Of Public Safety - Warrensburg
Lafayette County Sheriff's Office - Lexington
Higginsville Police Department - Higginsville
Odessa Police Department - Odessa
Charleston Department of Public Safety - Charleston
Perry County Sheriff's Office - Perryville
Sedalia Police Department - Sedalia
Phelps County Sheriff's Office - Rolla
Bowling Green Police Department - Bowling Green
Platte County Sheriff's Office - Platte City
Parkville Police Department - Parkville
Polk County Sheriff's Office - Bolivar
Ralls County Sheriff's Office - New London
O'Fallon Police Department - O'Fallon
Saint Peters Police Department - St. Peters
Cottleville Police Department - Cottleville
Lake Saint Louis Police Department - Lake St. Louis
Saint Charles County Police Department - St. Charles County
Farmington Police Department - Farmington
Park Hills Police Department - Park Hills
Calverton Park Police Department - Calverton Park
Edmundson Police Department - Edmundson
Eureka Police Department - Eureka
Ferguson Police Department - Ferguson
Hillsdale Police Department - Saint Louis
Ladue Police Department - Ladue
Manchester Police Department - Manchester
Maplewood Police Department - Maplewood
Richmond Heights Police Department - Richmond Heights
Saint Ann Police Department - St. Ann
Saint John Police Department - St. John
Sunset Hills Police Department - Saint Louis
Town and Country Police Department - Town & Country
University City Police Department - University City
Warson Woods Police Department - Saint Louis
Woodson Terrace Police Department - Saint Louis
Sainte Genevieve County Sheriff's Office - Sainte Genevieve
Sweet Springs Police Department - Sweet Springs
Scott City Police Department - Scott City
Stone County Sheriff's Office - Galena
Reeds Spring Police Department - Reeds Spring
Kimberling City Police Department - Kimberling City
Indian Point Police Department - Branson
Truesdale Police Department - Truesdale
Branson Police Department - Branson
Palmyra Police Department - Palmyra
Hazelwood Police Department - Hazelwood
Clay County Sheriff's Office - Liberty
Buchanan County Sheriff's Office - St. Joseph
Kearney Police Department - Kearney
Taney County Sheriff's Office - Forsyth
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office - Troy
Harrisburg Police Department - Harrisburg
Missouri State Highway Patrol - Jefferson City
Lee's Summit Police Department - Lee's Summit
Hannibal Police Department - Hannibal
Excelsior Springs Police Department - Excelsior Springs
Wright City Police Department - Wright City
Wentzville Police Department - Wentzville
St. Joseph Police Department - St. Joseph
Shrewsbury Police Department - Shrewsbury
Chesterfield Police Department - Chesterfield
O’Fallon Police Department - O'Fallon
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office - Centerview
St. Francois County Sheriff's Department - Farmington
Nixa Police Department - Nixa
Sikeston Department of Public Safety - Sikeston
Brentwood Police Department - Brentwood
Blue Springs Police Department - Blue Springs
Gladstone Police Department - Gladstone
Arnold Police Department - Arnold
Clayton Police Department - Clayton
Ellisville Police Department - Ellisville
Florissant Police Department - Florissant
Creve Coeur Police Department - Creve Coeur
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department - St. Louis
St. Louis County Police Department - St. Louis
Maryland Heights Police Department - Maryland Heights
Jefferson College Police Department - Hillsboro
Columbia Police Department - Columbia
Cape Girardeau Police Department - Cape Girardeau
Kansas City Police Department - Kansas City
St. Charles Police Department - St. Charles
Springfield Police Department - Springfield
Poplar Bluff Police Department - Poplar Bluff
Osage Beach Police Department - Osage Beach
Kirkwood Police Department - Kirkwood
Overland Police Department - Overland
Webster Groves Police Department - Webster Groves
Cass County Sheriff's Office - Harrisonville

I will admit that I'm conflicted about how to feel about the thousands of flock cameras in use in Missouri right now with more to come. In the hands of honorable Missouri law enforcement, I think it's a great thing. If it helps law enforcement protect the public, I'm in favor of it. However, I understand why privacy groups and other individuals are concerned. All of this data, tracking, surveillance...whatever you want to call it...in the wrong hands could greatly reduce if not eliminate privacy and civil rights.

There's only one thing that I'm certain of. Flock camera numbers will continue to grow in Missouri unless regulation puts a harness on them. I'll leave it to law enforcement, technology experts and privacy groups to decide how many is enough. Someone's going to have to figure out that number soon.