A program that has placed 20 cameras along strategic roads around Berrien County will be continued for another five years following action Thursday by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners.
The board approved a resolution continuing the sheriff’s department partnership with the FLOCK Group. Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit told commissioners FLOCK has been helpful identifying stolen cars.
“I would say the one person who really needs to worry about it is if you’re driving a stolen car, then you probably need to worry about it,” Heit said. “But it’s one of the best tools I’ve seen in my law enforcement career.”
Heit added the cameras have also resulted in other crimes being solved, pointing to the robbery of Dunham’s Sports in Benton Township.
“When Dunham’s — the firearms that were stolen — FLOCK was vital in that investigation. We had a missing autistic child that was found based on a hit on a license plate that was done. Several stolen vehicles. We had a stolen vehicle and trailer in New Buffalo Township that was found in Ottawa County, and it was found because of FLOCK.”.
FLOCK was started on a pilot basis in 2022.
Funding for the program comes from the county’s public safety millage.
