Suspension of Flock Camera Program in Homer Glen Amid Investigations

The village of Homer Glen has suspended the use of its Flock camera license plate reader program. This decision follows reports of a Will County sheriff’s deputy being placed on administrative leave due to alleged policy violations.

The announcement occurred shortly after a contentious meeting in which the Will County Board approved the renewal of Flock camera agreements. These agreements allow municipalities, including Mokena, Frankfort, and Manhattan, to use county rights of way for installing license plate reader cameras.

Recently, the Channahon Police Department reported an officer allegedly misused the Flock camera system and placed the officer on leave. Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike expressed her intention to reassess the Flock camera program. The village has suspended their use while awaiting the investigation’s results from the Will County sheriff’s office.

Mayor Neitzke-Troike stated, “I want more reassurances this won’t happen. We are putting a pause on any use of our cameras. Until an investigation is done, I can’t put our residents at risk.” Homer Glen contracts the Will County sheriff’s office for its policing services.

In April, Homer Glen officials voted to implement safeguards for the Flock camera policies to address privacy concerns. The Village Board decided to limit the sharing of collected information to within Illinois only, retaining data for seven days based on the agreement with the sheriff’s office.

In December, Homer Glen approved the installation of 12 license plate readers at access points in the village. Currently, only four cameras are operational, according to Neitzke-Troike. With the suspension, the village will also delay installing the remaining eight cameras until concerns are addressed.

An advisory referendum in Homer Glen in 2023 found that approximately 60.4% of residents opposed the cameras. The sheriff’s department emphasized holding its employees to high standards of professionalism and integrity.

“The Will County Sheriff’s Office holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, expecting each member to uphold the policies, values, and standards of conduct while serving our community with dedication and respect.” – Elizabeth Matthews, Sheriff’s Department Spokesman

The ongoing investigation addresses alleged policy violations, and the sheriff’s office promises additional information will be released without compromising the investigation’s integrity.

Will County Undersheriff Dan Jungles commented on the usefulness of Flock cameras for solving crimes and urged accountability for misuse. He stressed, “If law enforcement misuses this technology, that person needs to be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Police chiefs from Mokena, Naperville, and Frankfort supported the continuation of intergovernmental agreements for camera use.

Despite support, residents expressed concerns over potential misuse, privacy invasion, and unauthorized purposes, such as immigration enforcement or surveillance. Following misuse reports, Flock Safety announced policy changes, including requiring officers to use specific codes.

The Channahon Police Department conducted an internal audit revealing unauthorized use of Flock technology, leading to the implementation of advanced audit tools. These actions aim to reinforce trust and accountability within the community.

The situation continues to unfold as investigations proceed, and communities await the results to determine future actions for the Flock camera program.