A packed meeting over the use of automatic license plate readers in Moore County abruptly ended on Monday after tensions rose between people concerned about privacy and law enforcement officials defending the cameras as a tool for solving crimes.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office owns 10 Flock Safety cameras spread across the county’s roughly 700 square miles. The sheriff’s office also has access to 23 cameras operated by municipalities, while private businesses, homeowners associations and residents may operate additional cameras.
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The cameras automatically capture images and information about vehicles traveling past them. Sheriff’s office officials said the technology has been used in investigations involving stolen vehicles, missing people and Amber Alerts.
In July alone, the sheriff’s office said the cameras were used in 31 separate law enforcement matters.
Law enforcement officials said sharing information across jurisdictions is one of the system's biggest benefits, arguing that crime does not stop at county lines.
The meeting came days after investigators said the technology played a role in tracking Demetrius Aggelis, who is accused of killing his mother, stepfather and niece at a Pinebluff home.
But some people who packed Monday's meeting questioned whether the cameras amount to government surveillance and infringe on constitutional rights.
“You didn’t even inform us, you just put them up!” one person shouted from the audience during the meeting.
There was no formal public comment period during the special-called meeting, but people repeatedly spoke out from the audience, questioning why voters did not have more control over decisions surrounding the cameras.
Ellis Domenech, who runs the “DeFlock Moore County” Facebook page, said the group has grown to more than 350 members and is pushing county commissioners to remove the sheriff’s office cameras.
Domenech said he believes the cameras raise Fourth Amendment concerns.
“The Fourth Amendment says that you should be free to move about,” Domenech said. “There’s no expectation of privacy in public. But the expectation is that no one's gonna be spying on your movements.”
Law enforcement officials pushed back on the idea that the system amounts to widespread tracking. The sheriff’s office said 99% of vehicles captured by its cameras are never connected to an investigation, meaning the images remain in the system until they are automatically deleted under the current retention policy.
The sheriff’s office currently retains data for 30 days. Flock Safety announced changes that would shorten the default retention period to seven days, but Moore County officials said they would prefer to retain information for 30 days, citing investigations involving missing people and cases in which investigators may not immediately know what information they need.
Officials also acknowledged concerns about potential misuse of the technology. The sheriff said misuse would be taken seriously and discussed auditing searches of the system.
The meeting grew increasingly heated as audience members shouted questions and comments toward the panel. County commissioners moved to adjourn after the sheriff’s office called to escort some people out.
Before the meeting ended, leaders encouraged residents who wanted to formally voice their concerns to sign up to speak during the county commissioners’ regular meeting Tuesday.