Mayor names co-chairs of panel to evaluate Lexington’s Flock camera program

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton named the co-chairs of an independent panel to review the city’s Flock camera program.

The co-chairs are attorney Allison Connelly and nonprofit executive Timothy Johnson, according to a news release.

Connelly formerly chaired the city’s ethics commission and is a University of Kentucky College of Law professor emeritus. Johnson is currently president and CEO of the Great Clark Foundation and is the former president of United Way of the Bluegrass.

The mayor said that the two bring expertise that will help the city evaluate the program.

“Allison and Timothy bring considerable expertise that will help us take our due diligence concerning license plate readers to the next level,” Gorton said. “I am asking this panel to examine best practices and evaluate if improvements are needed, if a new vendor should be considered, or if other action should be taken. I want to take politics out of this discussion, and focus on facts.”

Gorton said that the panel is not focused on the Lexington Police Department and that it has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

The city has had discussions addressing the public’s concerns about the program but said considerable misinformation is being circulated about the cameras.

The release said the city’s 125 Flock cameras capture only single images of a license plate, a basic vehicle description, and the date, time, and GPS location of the license plate reader. They do not have video or facial recognition, and their view cannot be remotely adjusted.

According to the city, the cameras have been a benefit to police by:

• Locating 32 missing persons
• Recovering more than $5.5 million in stolen vehicles
• Seizing 166 weapons
• Charging 821 people with various crimes.

The remaining panel officials will be appointed later this month.