Winona Police Say They Will Not Reinstall Flock Cameras After All 8 Were Stolen
After careful consideration, Winona PD has decided not to reinstall any Flock cameras in the City of Winona
Winona, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Winona Police Department will not replace the Flock cameras that were recently stolen from the southeast Minnesota city.
Read More: All 8 of Winona's Flock Cameras Stolen, Police Investigating
The department made the announcement in a message shared on Wednesday.
Police previously said all eight of the city’s cameras were cut down sometime between July 29 and August 1.
Winona Police Department Announces Decision to Not Replace Stolen Flock Cameras
“After careful consideration, Winona PD has decided not to reinstall any Flock cameras in the City of Winona," the announcement says.
Winona police describe Flock cameras as “an effective and impactful resource for law enforcement.”
The announcement goes on to say that police used the cameras to find a homicide suspect, individuals in crisis, and helped to solve multiple involving hit-and-runs, stolen vehicles, and other offenses.
Winona police also said there have been no incidents of the cameras being misused by personnel with access to them.
While sharing examples of the cameras assisting law enforcement, Winona police also acknowledged the devices have prompted concerns about trust in policing.
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“At the end of the day, however, our community's trust is the foundation of effective policing, and we've worked hard to build and maintain that trust,” the announcement says.
Flock Camera Theft Investigation Continues
Deputy Police Chief Jay Rasmussen says the investigation into the theft of the cameras, which were stationed in pairs along Highways 61, 14 and 43, remains ongoing.
No additional information regarding the theft investigation is available. Each camera and pole is valued at $3,000, which brings the total loss caused by the theft to $24,000, Winona police previously stated.
Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to contact the Winona Police Department at 507-457-6302 or call Winona Area Crimestoppers at 507-457-6530.
Tipsters can also share information through https://winonaareacrimestoppers.com.
