SALISBURY, Md. - The Wicomico County NAACP is calling for greater transparency surrounding Salisbury’s Flock Safety camera network, raising questions about where the cameras are located, how collected information is used and who is permitted to access it.
NAACP President Monica Brooks said the organization reviewed a publicly available map of the network after hearing concerns about the technology. She said the map appeared to show a high concentration of cameras in predominantly minority areas of Salisbury.
“We wanted to ask the question, why?” Brooks said. “What is the reasoning behind the location of the cameras? What process took place?”
Brooks said the organization is also seeking information about whether the cameras can record audio, use facial recognition technology or share collected data with outside agencies. She said the NAACP wants confirmation that the network is not being used in cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The organization is not dismissing the potential public safety benefits of the technology. Brooks pointed to cases in which camera systems have helped authorities locate vehicles connected to child abductions. However, she said previous examples of surveillance technology being misused have created concerns about how the system could affect local communities.
“We understand that they have done some great things,” Brooks said. “But we want to know how the whole process is being addressed.”
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor said the cameras were placed according to crime data and activity levels, rather than neighborhood demographics. He said many cameras are located downtown because of the number of people and vehicles passing through the area each day.
“All the cameras were based on data, driven by data,” Taylor said. “So where we have higher crime areas, we have cameras.”
Taylor described the network as a “force multiplier” that allows officers to monitor a wider area and receive information more quickly. He said the system is approximately 75% implemented and estimated that it has already helped police solve between 35 and 40 cases.
Taylor also said officers cannot search the system simply to track someone’s daily movements. He said searches must be connected to a legitimate investigation, with officers expected to provide a case number or reason for accessing the information.
Brooks said the NAACP is not accusing Salisbury police of currently misusing the cameras. Instead, she said the organization wants policies and safeguards explained publicly before the system is fully implemented.
Taylor said Salisbury police are expected to give a presentation about the camera program within the coming weeks. He also said he would support a public meeting or review to address questions about the technology.
Brooks said an open conversation between police, elected officials and the community could help provide answers while building public trust.