The village of Homer Glen has temporarily suspended its Flock camera license plate reader program following reports of a Will County sheriff’s deputy being placed on administrative leave due to alleged policy violations. This decision occurs shortly after the Will County Board approved the renewal of Flock camera agreements, permitting municipalities such as Mokena, Frankfort, and Manhattan to use county rights of way for these cameras.

Recently, the Channahon Police Department also disclosed that an officer allegedly misused the Flock camera system, resulting in administrative leave. Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike is scrutinizing the Flock camera system further, suspending their usage within village limits pending the Will County sheriff’s office investigation.

Homer Glen collaborates with the Will County sheriff’s office for police services. Neitzke-Troike stated, “I want more reassurances this won’t happen. We are putting a pause on any use of our cameras. Until an investigation is done, I can’t put our residents at risk.”

In April, Homer Glen officials implemented measures to address residents’ privacy concerns, voting to restrict information sharing within Illinois and retain data for only seven days, as per their agreement with the sheriff’s office.

The village approved the installation of 12 license plate readers at access points in December, with only four currently operational. The village is also halting further installation until these concerns are resolved.

In a 2023 advisory referendum, approximately 60.4% of Homer Glen residents opposed the license plate cameras. Mayor Neitzke-Troike confirmed the deputy did not cover the Homer Glen community.

On Friday, a Will County sheriff’s deputy was suspended pending an internal affairs investigation into potential policy violations. Elizabeth Matthews, sheriff’s department spokesperson, stated, “The Will County Sheriff’s Office holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, expecting each member to uphold the policies, values and standards of conduct of the Office while serving our community with dedication and respect.”

She further noted that the investigation’s specifics are under review and will be shared when appropriate. Flock cameras serve investigators by helping solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles, and locate missing individuals, according to Will County Undersheriff Dan Jungles at the August 20 public comment period.

He encouraged the County Board and residents to question officers and ensure accountability. “If law enforcement misuses this technology, that person needs to be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.

Police chiefs from Mokena, Naperville, and Frankfort supported continuing intergovernmental agreements, highlighting crime-solving successes using the cameras. However, some residents expressed concerns about potential misuse and privacy invasions, as well as misuse for immigration enforcement.

In response to misuse allegations, Flock Safety announced policy changes in mid-August, mandating specific access codes. The Channahon Police Department reported an officer’s unauthorized use, leading to enhanced audit tools to fortify trust and accountability.