TUPD comments on Flock camera usage

A Flock camera watches over International Blvd, Nate Henderson photo

Troy University has had a system of Flock cameras on campus for three years, but recent online distress warranted an explanation from university police.

The system is made up of 12 cameras spanning Troy’s entire campus, most of them located at the entrances or in the busiest areas for vehicles. According to the Troy University Police Department (TUPD), their job is to monitor who drives in and out of campus to keep students safe – but some students are conflicted and have mixed opinions.

“I feel like it’s not a problem if they’re using it for what they say, just to check license plates and make sure everybody is safely getting through here,” said Trinton Pritchett, a freshman biomedical science major from Auburn, Alabama.

Some students are a little more on the fence. Elysia Lapsley, a freshman nursing major from Marion, Alabama, said she can see the benefits, but she still has some minor privacy worries.

“It actually makes me feel safe, especially because there could be a lot of crime going on, and as long as it’s caught on camera that makes me feel safe, but not too many,” Lapsley said. “[However], it could be invading folks' privacy, so I think if there’s just a few it’s OK.”

Troy University Police Chief George Beaudry said students don't need to worry about an invasion of their privacy, as the systems installed on campus don’t allow for facial recognition or individual tracking. Those were the main features of the cameras causing online discourse.

“That’s not a Flock problem; that is a problem with people who are misusing a tool that is very beneficial for law enforcement,” Beaudry said. “I say good for the agencies that are finding them and rooting out the problem.”

For some, what it comes down to is how the cameras are being used – whether it’s properly for security and safety, or if they’re being exploited and privacy is being invaded. Beaudry said he feels as though TUPD has done well with creating trust among students that officers are using the cameras responsibly.

“We try and host different events throughout the year – we do breakfast on the first day of school and stuff like that,” Beaudry said. “Just little opportunities for students to get to know us – they’re who we’re here for.”

The University’s Flock systems were originally installed in 2023.

Beaudry said he does a monthly internal check to ensure that any data that has been pulled has been on just grounds with safety in mind. He said he has yet to see them used for anything other than safety measures, and he intends to keep it that way.

“If there’s a tool that can help me keep our campus safe and also give me an investigative piece that has, on numerous occasions, helped us solve crimes, I’m going to keep using the tool, but I’m going to ensure that our officers are following the guidelines,” Beaudry said.

Troy University has 14 cameras in total, 12 on Troy’s main campus and the remaining two on the Dothan campus.