A CCTV Camera located in Market Square - Photo by Emily Chatwood / myFM News
The Town of Greater Napanee is clarifying concerns about cameras in the community after social media posts raised questions about reported “Flock cameras” and whether they could track residents’ movements.
The town said the cameras shown on a circulated map are part of its municipal CCTV program and are not connected to Flock Safety technology.
“The cameras shown on the map you referenced are owned and operated by the Town of Greater Napanee as part of the Town’s municipal CCTV program,” said Kylie Huffman in an email response to questions from 88.7 myFM.
The town’s CCTV program has operated since 2015 and was upgraded in 2024. Officials said the system is used to support public safety, protect municipal property and assist with investigations.
“These cameras are not Flock Safety cameras and are not connected to the Flock Safety platform,” Huffman said.
The town said the cameras are not actively monitored and footage is only reviewed when an approved request is made for an authorized purpose.
“The Town does not utilize facial recognition or other AI-based identification tools on its CCTV system,” Huffman said.
If you happen to notice a camera head moving, like this reporter did, the town explained it’s automatic movement and is system-driven. It does not indicate that the camera is being actively monitored or controlled by an operator.
“A small number of the Town’s CCTV cameras are pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras rather than fixed-lens cameras. These cameras are configured to follow a pre-programmed patrol sequence, automatically moving between predetermined views or areas of interest to provide broader coverage of public spaces.”
The program is governed by the Town’s CCTV Policy and privacy legislation, including the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Written by Emily Chatwood
