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Damages done to Covington Police Flock cameras over 2 months
Police say 125 auto thefts in 2023 fell to 19 through July 2026 as vandals damaged the city’s eight cameras.
- Most of Covington's eight Flock Safety cameras have been damaged or destroyed over the past two months, Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook reported on Friday, Aug. 28, amid online campaigns targeting the devices.
- Online campaigns encouraging citizens to disable surveillance devices have fueled vandalism across the nation, with similar incidents reported in Detroit, Michigan, and Savannah, Georgia, according to police reports.
- Despite the backlash, Covington Police credit the Flock system with reducing auto thefts and solving violent crimes, including a robbery at a BECU ATM, while complying with Washington's Driver Privacy Act.
- Last month, officers arrested a group of teens, ages 14 to 17, accused of shooting fireworks and a pellet gun at one camera, though Easterbrook noted repairs typically cost about $2,000 per unit.
- The Covington Police Department continues operating the cameras under City Council direction, utilizing built-in auditing tools to prevent unauthorized data access, even as privacy advocates argue the surveillance violates fundamental rights.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Covington-Maple Valley Reporter+12 Reposted by 12 other sources
Damages done to Covington Police Flock cameras over 2 months
Put down Covington as yet another city across the nation where people are damaging Flock Safety cameras, reportedly in protest to the surveillance that captures license plates of vehicles traveling through town.
·Federal Way, United States
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