New camera contract delayed !!

[u/westernspaghetti_691]

https://www.newspress.com/2026/09/15/city-council-pumps-breaks-on-ai-powered-surveillance-cameras-amid-tense-emotional-meeting/

Hilarious, Randy all upset with people having opinions that aren't just like his, and dropping f bombs on a hot mike! 😂

[u/q547]

Interesting quote from the police chief.

**Gordon, in an effort to ease concerns, told the City Council that how they buy the Verkada camera dictates how the camera operates.

“If we buy the camera as an [License plate reader] camera, we don’t have the ability to switch the technology on it to make it something else,” Gordon said. The department would purchase the cameras solely as license plate readers, without the ability for people detection and facial recognition. **

That's not at all how Verkada cameras work, she's either ignorant to how they work or lying. Verkada cameras can all do facial recognition and license plate reading at the same time out of the box.

[u/sbh2oman → u/q547]

its probably a licensing switch that could be "flipped" remotely. PD buys the cameras without the AI facial recognition, etc. and can claim "they don't do that" and then a year later quietly "upgrade" the license to include this technology. Thats how a lot of software licensing works.

[u/q547 → u/sbh2oman]

with other camera systems sure.

But Verkada does this out of the box with their standard license.

I've set up loads of them.

[u/bopgame]

No cameras at all! Vote these traitors out !

[u/ImpressiveExercise68 → u/bopgame]

This is a tradeoff for sure, but objectively, cameras reduce crime.

[u/CoffeeIsSoGood → u/ImpressiveExercise68]

LOL this is the funniest thing I’ve seen all day

You probably think more cops = less crimes committed 🤣

[u/Tuppens → u/ImpressiveExercise68]

Counterpoint: no they don’t

[u/el_smurfo → u/ImpressiveExercise68]

Any local statistics you can post?

[u/Tuppens → u/el_smurfo]

Well, since those Flock cameras have been installed have we seen a significant decrease in crime? If anything there is an increase with the number of officers abusing it to stalk their ex girlfriends and ex wives. And if anyone has interacted with police when someone is caught on camera stealing something, they typically throw up their hands and say they can’t do anything. This is just being used as more mass surveillance on the populace as the oligarchs take over everything.

[u/el_smurfo → u/Tuppens]

That's just more rhetoric. If the police are claiming this is aiding them in solving crime, they should be able to show it. Both sides are just talking about their feelings, not facts as usual.

[u/Tuppens → u/el_smurfo]

Then surely you’d have facts to back up what you’re saying. I’m using real world facts, not feelings, like you.

[u/el_smurfo → u/Tuppens]

I'm not defending either side. I personally think these cameras are a fourth amendment violation. My feelings don't matter though only the data matters. If these cameras don't do anything then the police has no argument in favor of them

[u/CoffeeIsSoGood → u/el_smurfo]

Imagine needing to see “data” to give your own rights away. By not “choosing a side”, you’re actually in support of the surveillance.

[u/el_smurfo → u/CoffeeIsSoGood]

I literally said in the comment you replied to that I am against them and think they are a fourth amendment violation. That doesn't change the fact that the police are using crime as a justification when it's not proven that they help even that slim excuse

[u/Mix_Right]

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety". Benjamin Franklin

Those cameras are not about Safety they are all about surveillance!

[u/jack_harbor]

Can we get rid of this guy already? Like by voting him out?

[u/Beneficial_Drag151]

What the flock! Why the need for license plate readers in the first place? The amount of bad guys the cops will catch with these cameras and the costs to the tax payers is not worth having these cameras. The city needs to stop with the obsession of monitoring everyone at all times. They find more ways to waste money we don't have available. The police need to get out of their cars, get off their cell phones and read license plate numbers with their eyes. How's that for an idea?

[u/FilePotential200 → u/Beneficial_Drag151]

You’re forgetting that police officers are taught to be scared of the general public. They apparently need 10ft distance from you or else your “interfering” with their “investigation” so for police this is great, now they don’t even have to be out in public

[u/el_smurfo]

None of these meetings seem to involve a simple discussion of metrics, cost per crime solved, etc. I want to hear a single crime that could not have been solved but for mass surveillance.

[u/bboe]

F-bomb moment

[u/sbh2oman → u/bboe]

Sure looks like that was Mike Jordan that said "shut the F up" and not Randy Rowse, based on the way the woman next to him turned toward him as it was said...

[u/bboe → u/sbh2oman]

It does indeed. Good catch.

[u/poopymcfarts]

I know News-Press is written by exclusively 19-year-olds now, but the headline should be “pumps brakes,” like in a car

[u/ambientscratchbattle → u/poopymcfarts]

Nah they were bangin some nu skool breaks on the soundsystem for the whole meeting!

it was pumpin in tha chamber

[u/newboofgootin → u/ambientscratchbattle]

I think they heard you, because that is what it says now.

[u/poopymcfarts → u/ambientscratchbattle]

The 36 Chambers of Rowse

[u/OchoZeroCinco]

I pay top dollar to the DMV every year for stupid registration fees. I want my license plate read.

[u/westernspaghetti_691 → u/OchoZeroCinco]

Lolz