By Josh Lock, Bartlesville

Dec 2, 2024

Tonight a number of local citizens and I all made public comments in pursuit of flock surveillance removal.

In response, the council sounded likely to take this up at its next meeting. Thank you to all of you who attended, spoke, and contacted the city council directly on this. I would ask that you reach out to the council again at the below email addresses and RESPECTFULLY reiterate your expectations for full removal of these devices from our community.

Mayor Curd

Ward3council@cityofbartlesville.org

Vice Mayor Dorsey

Ward5council@cityofbartlesville.org

Aaron Kirkpatrick

ward4council@cityofbartlesville.org

Larry East

Ward2council@cityofbartlesville.org

Tim Sherrick

Ward1council@cityofbartlesville.org

In my remarks tonight, I outlined the following expectations for a strong resolution to fix this. Feel free to use as much or as little of it as you wish:

“Therefore, I ask this council to act decisively with an agenda item in next month’s meeting that does the following:

  1. Reaffirms Bartlesville as a community committed to privacy and personal freedom, rejecting the creation of pervasive surveillance networks.
  2. Terminates the contract with Flock Safety, ensuring the immediate removal of these devices, and transparently informs the public about where these cameras have been placed until their complete removal.
  3. Discloses all current surveillance technologies employed by the city for public safety or compliance, ensuring transparency in our law enforcement practices.
  4. Urges our neighbors in Dewey, Ramona, and the Washington County commissioners to join us in this stand, ensuring our entire region remains free from unwarranted surveillance.”

Talk to you soon,

Josh

If you wish to sign the petition opposing flock surveillance and demand removal of existing cameras – there is an online petition created by Josh Lock here:

https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-removal-of-flock-surveillance-cameras-from-our-community/u/33083251

Federal lawsuit against flock cameras as warrantless surveillance

https://www.forbes.com/sites/larsdaniel/2024/10/22/warrantless-surveillance-federal-lawsuit-challenges-flock-safety-cameras

City council meeting reveals growing unease about flock surveillance cameras – article by KTUL

https://ktul.com/news/local/city-council-meeting-reveals-growing-unease-about-surveillance-tools-in-bartlesville-police-department-license-plate-recognition-camera-concern-vehicle-information-violation-technology-space#

Flock camera uses expanding – Tulsa, Osage, Washington County

https://www.fox23.com/news/local/osage-county-sheriffs-office-introduces-flock-safety-cameras/article_73944098-ad82-11ed-b423-3b1eb5bb5b72.html

Resolution passed by Washington County Oklahoma GOP regarding Flock Cameras:

Article by WCGOPOK on topic here:

https://wcgopok.com/resolution-against-the-use-of-surveillance-cameras

Original content via OKGrassroots