Twin Falls residents debate Flock Safety license plate cameras at city council meeting

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Dozens of residents addressed the Twin Falls City Council Monday night during a public input session, voicing opinions both for and against automatic license plate reader cameras in the city. Only one speaker voiced support for the cameras.

The Twin Falls Police Department is requesting $88,400.00 in funding for the Flock Safety Real-Time Information Program.

Business owners, community members and a student named Scout Irby spoke to the council about their concerns. Multiple speakers raised the case of former Jerome County Sheriff George Oppedyk, who used Flock cameras to search for his wife’s vehicle hundreds of times between July and September of 2025.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks also addressed the Oppedyk case, saying law enforcement will hold any future misuse accountable.

“Law enforcement leaders like the now current sheriff Gary Taylor and myself, we will take the appropriate action to find if any officer is misusing these tools and violating the public’s trust,” Hicks said.

Tyler Cain, chair of the nonprofit Deflock Idaho — a group seeking statewide removal of Flock cameras — said a key concern is that the cameras retain images for 30 days.

“It doesn’t have to catch a license plate,” Cain said. “Just the fact of your vehicle being there — they can search by color, make and model — and so just passing by, it’s taken, it’s catalogued you, and that’s one of our concerns.”

Chief Hicks said the cameras have aided law enforcement operations.

“They help us with stolen vehicles, finding endangered people, wanted individuals, and help us solve hit-and-run investigations, burglaries, thefts and other criminal investigations,” Hicks said.

RELATED: ‘Too easily abused’: Idaho residents organize to remove Flock cameras from Twin Falls and beyond

Webb Glauner, co-chair of the Southern Idaho Democratic Socialists of America, said his goal for the meeting was to send a message to the council.

“The goal of the night is to show the city council that the people of Twin Falls stand against these Flock cameras, and that if they do not stand against them as well, the elections are coming in November,” Glauner said.

No decision made; budget vote set for August

The council made no decision Monday night. City officials are expected to consider approval of the fiscal year 2027 budget on Aug. 24.