Catoosa Police Department Testing Out Flock Cameras

The Catoosa Police Department has joined law enforcement across the country in testing a new kind of camera system to help catch criminals.

Chief Ronnie Benight said his department began testing ten cameras in January and has since made nine arrests and spotted 20 stolen vehicles.

He said the system is not used to spy on citizens, but rather to deter criminals.

"I do not have the manpower and I am sure other chiefs do not have the manpower either to sit and watch a camera all the time to figure out what you are doing, and we do not care," Chief Benight added. "Unless you are in a stolen vehicle or you are committing crimes in the community, we are never going to see you."

Flock cameras take pictures of the back of a vehicle as it drives by and that information goes into a database. Officers can then search by a vehicle's make, model, color, license plate, and even unique details like a roof rack.

Benight said it helps aid law enforcement across the nation in Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts and locating stolen vehicles.

"It is like an officer sitting in one place watching for stolen vehicles 24 hours a day, so it is a great asset especially to aid with manpower," Benight continued saying, "Stolen vehicles have been out of control for a long time, and I really think this program is going to help reign that in."

The Flock camera system is the same one the Tulsa Police Department started using in 2022.

Benight said the Catoosa Police Department is collecting data on how the cameras help in crime prevention and will decide by July 1st whether to continue using them.