A Chapman Avenue resident questioned Auburn City Council’s approach to police surveillance Thursday, arguing that the city’s decision to discontinue Flock cameras had not resolved broader concerns about privacy and other police technology.
The comments came during the Oct. 8 meeting’s public comment period. The speaker compared the months-long Flock debate with council’s approval of an Axon agreement and discussion of police drones. Council took no new vote on surveillance equipment that evening.
The resident said she was not taking a position for or against Flock. Instead, she questioned why people who opposed that system had not shown the same level of opposition to other equipment she believed could raise privacy concerns.
She pointed to earlier comments about cameras potentially observing people in private backyards and argued that drones deserved similar scrutiny.
Her remarks did not establish which drone capabilities Auburn currently uses or which Axon software features the city has enabled.
Flock decision addressed approval process and safeguards
The comparison follows council’s unanimous August vote to terminate Auburn’s Flock Safety contract after months of debate over automated license plate readers.
FingerLakes1 reported that the termination resolution also directed officials to develop rules governing future license plate reader technology. Officials acknowledged that the original Flock agreement had not received formal council authorization.
The decision did not impose a permanent prohibition on license plate readers. Council called for safeguards covering access, data sharing, security, oversight and retention before another agreement.
The same meeting included a separate police technology grant proposal that listed drones among potential purchases. Council amended that resolution so any grant award would return for acceptance and another opportunity to review proposed equipment.
Axon agreement covers cameras, Tasers and evidence services
Council subsequently approved a $999,999.60, five-year Axon agreement providing 80 body cameras, 61 Tasers and related equipment, software, evidence storage and support.
The agreement covers July 2027 through June 2032. FingerLakes1’s reporting on the approval described it as an expansion and upgrade of Auburn’s existing body-camera and Taser program.
Questions about software and artificial intelligence capabilities resurfaced during public comment later in September.
Residents Katie Hoff and Jason Teeter asked which capabilities Auburn had purchased and which would actually be used. Councilor Christina Calarco supported a public explanation from police officials, noting that features advertised by Axon may not be part of Auburn’s specific package.
City Manager Jenny Haines agreed police officials should return to answer technical questions.
Latest comments bring no new equipment decision
Thursday’s speaker also criticized the response of police and fire personnel to previous city employee layoffs, connecting the technology dispute to broader frustration over city priorities.
The council moved on after public comment and did not reopen the Axon contract, approve a drone purchase or adopt a new surveillance policy during the public session.
The questions raised Thursday followed the earlier request for a public explanation of Auburn’s equipment and software package. No such presentation occurred at the Oct. 8 meeting.
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