DeLand, Florida, will spend $61,000 to install six new solar-powered Flock surveillance cameras in its downtown area, ostensibly to enhance public safety and monitor large events. Police Chief Jason Umberger claims the system will function as “other eyes” for post-incident investigations, assuring residents that the controversial “Guardian Mode” for auto-tracking people and vehicles will not be active on these specific units. Despite these assurances, residents express significant privacy concerns, viewing the deployment as an intrusive expansion of surveillance. The move comes as Flock’s technology faces national scrutiny, with the company recently pausing all federal pilot programs over concerns about data accessibility and partnerships with federal authorities. The city is proceeding with the installation, framing it as a necessary investment in safety while downplaying the system’s full capabilities and the vendor’s controversial track record.