During Tuesday’s County Rules and Legislative Committee meeting, new District 5 Commissioner Brent Smith presented a proposed resolution to audit the Flock camera system being administered through Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.
“I am bringing this resolution forward out of sincere commitment to our community, the Constitution and the men and women who serve in law enforcement,” commented Smith.
He said, with law enforcement officers sitting behind him, that when automated surveillance tools are used, that trust must be anchored in “verified boundaries.” Smith said if the County’s Flock system is being used properly, an audit will verify that fact and reassure the public.
He said any other activity, such as tracking citizen travel patterns or leaking private, public information to outside data bases, then it is the Commission’s duty to intervene immediately.
Smith said he has full confidence that this internal audit, if approved, can be done through BCSO and Sheriff Nikia Elliott, without much cost to the County.
See more of this story in the 9/24 edition of the Times-Gazette. Newly elected Sheriff Nikia Elliott also had the opportunity to speak about the Flock cameras and some other law enforcement topics.

In other business:   Commissioners recently elected from the floor the following Commissioners to serve the Rules Committee: newly elected Jared Featherstone, Mark Thomas, Jason Boyette, Biff Farrar and Anita Epperson. Thomas was nominated by Featherstone to become the new chair, replacing Farrar.