Yakima City Council to Review Flock Camera Impact

While other cities are turning off or suspending the use of Flock cameras the Yakima City Council continues to support their use. In fact Yakima has no plan to turn off the cameras or license plate readers located within the city says Yakima Police Chief Shawn Boyle. He's expected to tout the cameras positive impact on Tuesday.

THE CITY STUDY SESSION STARTS AT 5:00 PM

The Yakima City Council will get an update on the cameras during a special study session at city hall on Tuesday. Currently the city has 6 mobile cameras and 87 fixed located in unannounced locations which police say are vital tools in crime fighting.
The meeting at Yakima City Hall starts at 5:00 pm.

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A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION SHOWS THE CAMERAS WORK

During the meeting Chief Boyle will present the council with years of evidence that the cameras have made a big impact on crime fighting since they were first installed in 2022. Since then Boyle says they've help to solve 1,765 crimes involving firearms, 590 domestic violence and 352 gang cases.

DESPITE THE IMPACT SOME CITIES ARE SAYING NO

Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are the latest Police Departments among many agencies in Washington state that have suspended the use of Flock cameras, an automated license-plate-reading system. Boyle and others say the systems were vital to solving the Brown University campus murders and were used in the initial search for Travis Decker, the Wenatchee man accused of killing his three daughters last year.

CHANGES PROPOSED

A WA state senator is proposing legislation that could solve some of the concerns of Wenatchee Mayor Mike Poirier who says the city faces unreasonable requests for the camera system information.

HERE COME THE RATE INCREASES IN PARKS AND RECREATION

Along with the discussion about Flock cameras the city council will also get an update from Yakima Parks and Recreation which is proposing to raise fees across the board on everything from Fisher Park Golf Course to rentals of area soccer fields. The increases are the result of major budget cuts in the 2026 budget.
The meeting starts at 5:00 pm at Yakima City Hall. You can attend or you can watch the meeting on Zoom at yakimawa.gov.