WCTI reported that Emerald Isle town leaders are considering a police drone and two automated license plate reader cameras. The drone would help with search and rescue. The cameras would help police investigate crimes and locate missing people.
Some residents have privacy concerns and are asking questions, so the proposal is not settled. The town held its third and final public information session on Tuesday, Oct. 20, before commissioners revisit it next month.
What is Emerald Isle considering?
- Two automated license plate reader cameras for police investigations
- One police drone for search and rescue
- A $20,000 donation the town received to help pay for the equipment
- Technology from Verkada, according to Emerald Isle police, not Flock
Officers from Atlantic Beach, which already uses license plate readers, described their experience at the session. The town's lead investigator, who is the only person investigating crime there, said the cameras would cut the time it takes to get access to plate information after a hit-and-run or robbery.
What changes for drivers?
The purchase has not been approved. Commissioners delayed it and are expected to revisit it on Nov. 10. If they approve it, the cameras would be Emerald Isle police equipment.
The source does not say where the cameras would be placed or how long plate data would be kept. Those are open questions for the town.
What happens next?
Commissioners are expected to revisit the proposal at their next meeting on Nov. 10. Before then, residents can ask the town where the cameras would go, how long plate data would be kept, who could search it, and whether the donation comes with conditions. The source does not report answers to those questions.
Readers can learn how plate readers work before the meeting and check the camera map for cameras already mapped in nearby towns. Published agency transparency records are also a place to look.