By Spencer Wilson | CBS Colorado
A discussion over privacy, policing and public safety technology is taking center stage in Avon after three police cameras were vandalized earlier this month. That includes two speed enforcement cameras and one Flock license plate reader.
The acts of vandalism happened during the early morning hours of July 18, when someone cut down or damaged camera poles and stole two of the devices. It resulted in more than $76,000 in damage and replacement costs, according to documents prepared for Tuesday night’s Avon Town Council meeting. Police said they are actively investigating the felony vandalism and theft.
The vandalism also ignited a much larger conversation online after the Avon Police Department’s Facebook post about the damage went viral, drawing tens of thousands of reactions from people across the country. Town Manager Eric Heil said that, while the social media attention accelerated the discussion, Avon had already planned to review its use of camera technology as its contract with Flock Safety approaches renewal.
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