What the Flock? Flock this!!

 

This week the City Council will hold a Public Safety Meeting to discuss the Flock Camera System that is deployed throughout the city. It is doubtful that much will come out of the meeting. Council will most likely spend most of the time asking questions about what the system is and will never get into the nitty gritty about how the city uses the system and what controls are in place to not permit misuse and abuse of the system. Abuse like we have seen throughout the United States on various news outlets. The last thing we would want is someone using the system to track down a prostitute or drug dealer’s cash for misaligned needs…. and that has happened in the US. 

To save some time, I have taken the step to educate council and all readers (I know council reads this joke of a blog, “Hey y’all! You’re welcome”)

What is the Flock system?

A Flock camera system is essentially a networked automated license plate reader (ALPR) built by Flock Safety, designed to capture vehicle data and send it to a searchable cloud database. The core idea: every passing vehicle gets photographed, its plate read, and its physical attributes logged, giving police and private clients a powerful investigative tool.

A Flock camera is a solar‑powered, LTE‑connected roadside ALPR that takes still images of vehicles, extracts the plate number and a “vehicle fingerprint,” and stores it in a cloud database searchable by law enforcement, HOAs, and businesses. Flock camera is an automated license plate reader (ALPR) made by Flock Safety. It records vehicle details like license plates, make, model, color, and unique features, storing them in a searchable cloud database used by law enforcement and private communities.

Source: What Is a Flock Camera and How Does It Work? · Finding Flock - https://www.findingflock.com/learn/what-is-a-flock-camera 

What does it do?

As stated, it records YOU. But when does it start to violate your rights. A gentleman on Facebook who I will begin to cite more often cited some important facts.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DMPxH3BNP/   

The city of Allentown uses the flock camera system. But what exactly do they use it for? 

I would think after a shooting they use the system to track vehicles that were in the area at the time. Okay, okay, sounds like a good tool, right? 

Well, the problem of what you may not realize is the police can literally track your whereabouts throughout the city. Times you traveled and how long you were there. In fact, with the use of Flock and all the 150 plus cameras throughout the city, they could literally track your every move. Seems intrusive, doesn't it? It is.

 Its as creepy as the guy on the 5th floor.

How isn’t that violating your privacy rights? What’s to say when an officer wants to spy on his wife, neighbor or friends? They could. I’m sure there is an audit system, but unless it highlights key plates and names how would anyone know? Do you think assistant Chief Gress will look into any abuse?  Lol

I’m all for the police using lt correctly, but the fact you can be tracked whenever you’re in the city limits concerns me. 

Current Evidence of Misuse

1. Stalking romantic partners or exes 

This is the largest and best‑documented category. Officers run plates of ex‑girlfriends, estranged spouses, or people they’re romantically interested in — sometimes hundreds of times.

Sedgwick, Kansas (2024) — Police chief used Flock 228 times to stalk his ex‑girlfriend and her new partner.

Indianapolis, Indiana (2026) — Officer ran searches 3,759 times over 10 months, tracking vehicles used by his wife and two acquaintances.

Multiple states (2021–2025) — At least 24 documented cases of officers using ALPRs to track romantic partners, per Institute for Justice.

2. Personal curiosity or harassment of acquaintances

Officers sometimes run plates of neighbors, coworkers, or people they have disputes with.

Stow, Massachusetts (2026) — Officer accessed Flock data at least five times to get information about someone he knew personally. He faces firing and criminal charges. But that wouldnt happen at APD.  You cant get fired, just watch the news.

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana (2026) — Officer fired for “personal use” of the system.

3. High‑volume, unjustified searches

Some officers run hundreds of searches on a single vehicle with no case number, no report, and no investigative justification.

Sarasota, Florida (2026) — Officer ran 335 searches on one vehicle; arrested for official misconduct and computer crimes.

4. Departments failing to audit or detect misuse

A major theme: misuse is often discovered by victims, journalists, or activists — not by police departments themselves.

Washington Post investigation (2026) — Found at least 69 officers nationwide accused, charged, or convicted of misuse; in 15 cases, outsiders discovered the abuse before the department did.

5. Misreads leading to wrongful stops and violence

Not intentional misuse, but operational misuse: officers rely on Flock hits without verifying them, leading to dangerous encounters.

Innocent people have been stopped at gunpoint, mauled by police dogs, or jailed due to misreads or unverified alerts.  I am sure Chief Roca will say they have a strict policy on misuse and if anyone is caught doing so, they will be disciplined. Yea okay.  Wannabe politician. 

On Wednesday, city council will hear some presentations from the APD and experts on the city’s own Flock Camera system, but I honestly don’t expect much transparency. I am sure that the administration will refer to the Right to Know and other applicable laws that apply to obtain information (useless P.O.S.), only for it to be denied due to “operational security”. Just another opportunity to waste taxpayers’ time with no response and no action. 

I wonder if the Flock Camera video has the audio/video of the homophobic slur that was screamed at Mr. Eddie Aviles by an Allentown Police officer?

Oh wait, thats in the secret APD files along with all the other crimes officers have gotten away with.

** You can join the discussion August 26th @6:15 PM at the following link:

Allentown - Public Safety Committee

https://allentownpa.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=30365&GUID=51B62740-AE07-4294-950C-8DDAA98416A5

Remember council isnt smart, so we have to inform them because they won't do it themselves.

Bad things to come

I decided not to write about the council on Wednesday the day after because it was yet another example of inefficiency and ineffective government on display. The city council and preceding committee meetings were mostly uneventful but there were a few moments that made me raise an eyebrow.

Community and Economic Development Meeting

An interesting overview of the Recompete Grant. The only thing that I would say about this $20 million grant that was awarded to the City in Aug 2024 is that it is paying for staff and facilities. The executive director and the CED Director were able to talk about what they envision to be done with the grant but could only point to expenses being paid for salaries and other overhead.

Councilman Binder frustrates me. He is clearly very intelligent and a watchdog for city taxpayers but he apologizes and tries to soften his approach constantly. He smelled the bullshit in the chambers and was ready to hold people accountable for not using the funds as intended, but something in him makes him backdown. It is really frustrating to watch. Councilman Binder - Sometimes calling them out is the only way. Who cares what they think of you?

Jeannie Garcia from Promise Neighborhoods spoke up about possibly being intentionally kept out of the grant process and watching other organizations get favored treatment. That would not surprise me at all. The city has nothing to show for the $20 million in funds and having no plan for qualifying sub-awardees is to be expected.

It seems the only Allentownians that are benefiting from this grant are the fat cats administering it. Figures. Corruption at its finest.

Full Council Meeting

Contracts….again. Here goes yet another group of contracts that need to increase the cost to the taxpayers because the scope of work has changed.

Good job Councilwoman Affa on finally questioning these city contracts. The contracts process is broken. I suspect one of two things: 1. There is no one in the city that knows how to write a good statement of work leaving it to the contractor to evaluate and adjust pricing because the bid doc and actual work needed are far off or 2. The normal vendors know how to bid low to secure the contract from the city with all intention to inflate the cost later. Either way the taxpayers are paying for these piss poor services from the employees and the contractors. The purchasing department (a Bina Patel sub department, by the way) is not serving the city taxpayers well at all.

There was yet another promotion and council partially blinked an eye on this one. Councilman Binder hinted that the Council and administration have agreed to finally follow the charter (after this one last final promotion) when it comes to reclassifying and promoting employees. Unfortunately they had a promotion from part-time to full-time that escaped following policy.

The Fire Chief tried to say it was cost neutral. (Firefighters literally are the biggest scammers)  How? You are doubling the salary of the employee and they are now eligible for benefits. Seems to me that no one understands basic management and staffing. The administration knows how to bamboozle the clueless council.

Future discussion…..Start buckling up for another round of budget drama this year. This one should be even more interesting for the viewers because the city is struggling this year with unexpected expenses like the Stormwater fee that was misclassified as a fee and should have been a tax. Leaving the city to potentially refund tax-exempt organizations and a revenue loss of at least $6.7 million.  Which I hope they have too.

Rumors of the DROP continue to swirl around. A huge benefit to the police department, but a new financial obligation that will have negative impact of the fiscal health of the city. The city will lose millions in state pension aid. Also, the biggest issue with that benefit, is the clause they put in that it lasts forever. Great way to give the city a permanent liability.

The Police and future Fire Station have not been cancelled. The city plans to borrow over $100 million to fund these two facilities. Why? They really aren’t necessary. The Police were evicted from the 10th street station after the rushed sale to JB Reilly….oops the Allentown Art Museum.  

They have a new rental station that seems to be working just fine. The administration at 4th Street are doing just fine sitting behind their desks in their executive leather chairs watching illegal dirt bikes ride down Hamilton St. then crash.

Central Fire just got a new roof that, according to Public Works, addresses the biggest issue at Central.  I think it cost $500,000.  I mean they should definitely move soon now.  Bulldoz that $500k to the ground.

Lastly, as with every year prepare for a bunch of taxpayer dollars to be handed out to non-profits, vendors who bid low and follow with a change order to bring to the real price, Matt Tuerk to increase his travel fund, the DEI Manager to continue to cash a check, promotions and reclassifications to select employees, while the real deserving employees get pushed aside, and another year of the Love Your Block Grant being used for overhead and not as it was intended. —the people. 

There will be back and forth with the administration and council. Council will appear to care and want to do something about the misuse of taxpayer dollars. Cinthia Mota and Candida will definitely be against any tax increase but pressure from Santo Napoli, the Mayor’s not so secret weapon, will cause them both to change their position.  

In the end we all know the result, behind the scenes — the council and administration will be in cahoots from the start, the budget will pass with all the pork and fluff and the council and mayor will congratulate Finance and each other for a great budget season.  Always funny how losers congratulate themselves because no one else will. After which, they will all go to Jack’s Slice for their great food and alcohol afterwards in celebration. 

we did it

 Meanwhile, we taxpayers will be obligated to fund their inefficiency and stupidity.

Saturday memes

 Sorry for the late post.  I still laugh at my creativity. 

More news time

Did you catch the Ed Pawlowski story on Wfmz tonight?  Whether your a fan or not, how does a guy who was in prison get more news time than the current mayor? I'll tell you.

Ed isnt a wannabe. He doesnt try to fit in. Or get silly tattoos. Felon yes.  Like 47 counts or something.  He isnt fake and I actually believe he cares about the city despite his past actions.  I cannot say that about the current mayor.  You know the guy who no one sees anymore. Or cares to see.

Ed seems to have humbled himself while away.  Dropping the soap can do that to a man I guess. Well dropping it multiple times will definitely do it.

I can tell you I'm not a huge Ed fan, but ill give credit where it's due.  He was an actual leader. He was seen. He was also out in the community.  Forget the sketchy wiretaps he was caught on. Haha. He did his time as far as Im concerned. Lest not forgot, having vendors or people the city does business with pay for your travels while you hold an office is also illegal.

However, I believe in second chances.  I could totally see the next mayor making Ed their managing director.  That would make a great story. A used car salesman replaced by a felon.  Holla!!!

Love this gif

So kudos to turning your life around Ed.  You might be Allentowns last hope to make it better before it is totally shit. Well it is shit.  But I mean totally.   All of it. 

Another one

I just cant get over all the vehicular deaths in the city.  Why is this happening? Another 18year old died today after crashing his moped. My condolences. 

Is this because people are riding illegally with no experience?  Or is it because the cops dont try to stop these illegal riders?  What is Chief Roca's reactive action going to be? He will probably say "we have been stepping up our traffic patrols, and have been very successful in catching illegal riders."  Yea okay buddy.

I know I speak on the mopeds/scooters/dirtbikes all the time. But wtf!  Silly Matt wants zero vehicular deaths by 2030.  Its funny he will be out of here at the beginning of 2030. I love how a guy promotes an initiative but wont even be in office to see if its successful.  You are a joke.

I dont know if me writing this late at night and sending it out does anything.  Maybe people dont like my pics/memes or the message I am sending.  Nothing seems to get done. But we will have bike lanes folks.  The dirt bikes need a lane to pass everyone in.  Another joke.  This isnt Seattle Matt. No one cares about coffee shops and bike lanes.

Here is Matts plan. 

https://www.allentownpa.gov/en-us/Government/Departments/Public-Works/Traffic-Planning-Control/Safe-Streets-for-All-SS4A

Where is Matt by the way? Has anyone seen him?  He promised safe streets for all. Sounds like the bike plan is to have increased speed bike related incidents.

Why is Frank in all the photo ops anymore?  No one wants to see him on their screen.  We want our leader.