Greer City Council hosted a workshop to get an update on the Flock Safety system from the police chief prior to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday night.
Flock Safety Workshop
Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby provided City Council with information about what Flock Safety cameras can and cannot do and how the department utilizes the tool to solve crimes that have already happened. Chief Hamby said the cameras capture vehicle information and not images of the people inside vehicles. The City of Greer currently has 10 Flock Safety cameras that cover approximately 700 of its 1.5 million linear feet of roadway.
The Greer City Administrator ordered the department to cut off access to the system and physically cover the cameras for 90 days starting on August 21, 2026. The action came after the city terminated two police officers who had violated department policy on the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.
Chief Hamby shared some success stories of how the Flock Safety system has helped solve crimes in the city. He also listed crimes that have occurred during the 90-day suspension where Flock could have assisted the department.
Click the video box below to watch the entire Flock Safety workshop.
City Council Meeting
Greer City Council took a short break after the mayor officially closed the Flock Safety Workshop at 6:34 p.m. The regularly scheduled City Council meeting began at 6:47 p.m.
Joe Horne and Alison Rauch signed up to speak to Council as petitioners. Horne said he is a retired Navy intel specialist. He spoke about the importance of limiting access to the Flock Safety system in order to protect the integrity of investigations, protect the privacy of citizens, and protect officers and the city from the liability of misuse.
Alison Rauch lives in the area around Biblebrook Drive. She spoke to Council about the need to replace a bridge that was torn down in 2020. She listed concerns she has about the safety of people who live in the area and said the absence of the bridge makes it more challenging for first responders from the city to access the area in the event of an emergency.
Other Business
Greer City Council voted on a number of issues on the agenda including a rezoning request, the proposed meeting schedule for 2027, and staff's recommendation to approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the new Groce Meadow Road fire station.
View the meeting agenda on our public portal.
Click the video box below to watch the recording of the meeting.
Next Meeting
Greer City Council will meet again on November 24. Council will host a public information session on Flock Safety cameras at 5:30 p.m. The regularly scheduled Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.