Tonawanda switching from Flock cameras

Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Town of Tonawanda is changing its surveillance cameras.

"Flock is just a brand name," said Town of Tonawanda Supervisor John Flynn. "In Tonawanda, we have had automated license plate readers for over four years now."

Flynn explained that the town initially went with the company Flock. That lease is up at the end of the year. They are switching to another brand name, Axon.

"We're doing it because it's cheaper than Flock, and there have been some issues [elsewhere] with Flock," Flynn explained with WBEN. "I'm very familiar with the company Axon, which manufactures body cameras for police departments."

Flynn says there is really no difference between the surveillance systems.

"I understand the controversy with the Flock cameras. I know there are privacy concerns and that a rogue officer could take the data and do bad things with it. But I am 100% behind the concept of automated license plate readers," he added.

He went on to say there are safeguards in place to prevent an officer from misusing data. And overall, the benefit outweighs the risk.

"We had a bank robbery last week on Sheridan Drive. We used these cameras to catch that bank robber. Within 24 hours, he was caught, arrested and is now being prosecuted."

Flynn added that stolen cars is one of the biggest issues facing suburban police departments.

"These Flock cameras help immeasurably in tracking down these cars and often in finding the person who stole the car."

There are currently 12 surveillance cameras in the Town of Tonawanda.