Greer has suspended its use of the Flock Safety camera system for 90 days, a decision announced on August 21. This pause follows the city’s termination of two police officers for misusing the technology for personal reasons, and comes amid widespread public concern regarding the cameras.
City Administrator Andrew Merriman stated that the suspension will allow for a comprehensive reevaluation of the camera system. This process will include a data-driven analysis of the technology’s effectiveness, a review of training and implementation procedures, and a consideration of privacy concerns balanced against public safety benefits. Merriman emphasized the importance of public trust and public safety in Greer.
The two officers, Cpl. Kareem Lynch and Officer Sebastian Echeverry, were fired in June after an audit revealed they used the cameras to track individuals in their personal lives. According to separation documents from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy, Lynch repeatedly searched for a fellow officer with whom he had a prior relationship in December and January. Echeverry monitored several residents from December to May. Both officers falsified justifications for their searches; Echeverry falsely entered Alcohol Offense Non-DUI, while Lynch used reasons such as city planning and welfare check.
Flock cameras, which are automated license plate readers, enable law enforcement to track vehicles. While proponents argue they are valuable tools for crime solving and community safety, critics contend they invade privacy and are prone to abuse. Other law enforcement employees across South Carolina have also been found misusing this technology. Five Greenville County law enforcement employees were fired this summer, including a Mauldin police officer who searched for a former significant other 166 times. The day before Greer announced its pause, a Colleton County Sheriff’s Deputy was terminated for improperly using the Flock system over 2,700 times.
Activists have organized campaigns against these systems, advocating for more stringent safeguards such as requiring warrants for camera access and reducing data retention periods. In response to criticism, Flock Safety recently announced policy changes, including reducing the default data retention from 30 days to seven, implementing mandatory audits, requiring specific case numbers for searches, and granting local law enforcement more control over outside agency data access. However, these changes have not fully satisfied opponents.
Oconee County took action on August 18, voting for an ordinance that prohibits county funding for automated license plate readers, bans them from county property, and threatens to cut certain funding for cities that use them. Oconee County Council Chair Matthew Durham expressed hope that this move would encourage other governments to follow suit.