Welch defends keeping Flock cameras

St. Petersburg mayor and 2026 candidate for reelection

“Let's talk about it without throwing out a tool that is helping us track down people that make us less safe as a community”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)Crist calls for Flock camera moratorium, Welch defends use

Source and context

Interview

Crist calls for Flock camera moratorium, Welch defends use (opens in a new tab)

About this source

Spectrum News original interviews with both St. Petersburg mayoral runoff candidates.

Before the quotation

Spectrum News interviewed Welch as his opponent called for a moratorium.

After the quotation

Welch said he had not seen a strong enough case to take the cameras down, though he left open reconsideration.

How this statement is classified

Defended or excused

Case context: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Welch said the city should talk about the cameras without throwing out a tool that helps police track down people who make the community less safe. Keeping the cameras fits Defended.

Recorded on
Published here
A close view of a green Flock Safety automated license-plate reader mounted beside a street.
Credit: Bruxton

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