A petition calling for Excelsior Springs to suspend its use of Flock cameras is drawing signatures as local discussion grows over the technology and its use in the community.

Tracie Hardesty recently created the petition, calling on the Excelsior Springs City Council to immediately suspend the use of Flock automated license plate reader (LPR) cameras and take steps to terminate the city’s contract with Flock Safety. As of press time, the petition had collected 283 verified signatures.

The petition states the effort is not based on a belief that the Excelsior Springs Police Department (ESPD) is currently misusing the cameras and is not intended as an anti-police effort. It acknowledges the cameras can assist law enforcement with locating stolen vehicles, identifying vehicles connected to crimes and conducting investigations.

“Our concern is whether those benefits justify creating a system that routinely photographs and records the movements of ordinary people who are not suspected of commi…