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Sheriff tells McPherson County commissioners a Flock camera found a missing driver with dementia

Sheriff Jerry Montagne says search logs and biweekly reviews safeguard the county's four license-plate readers

Sarah Newberry, Cronkite

16 Sep 2026 • 2 min read

McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne told commissioners Monday, Sept. 14, that a Flock license-plate camera helped deputies stop a driver with dementia on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Montagne said the driver was not supposed to be driving. After a camera detected the vehicle, deputies stopped the driver without incident, he said.

Montagne did not identify the driver. "But without that, he would end up in a ditch or whatever," he said. Flock cameras are automated license-plate readers that photograph passing vehicles and alert law enforcement when a plate matches information entered into the system.

According to a March 2025 Citizen Journal report, McPherson County commissioners unanimously approved four Flock cameras under a five-year, $64,000 contract. The first year cost $16,000, including installation, followed by annual payments of $12,000. The report said the system would connect with law enforcement in Saline County, Abilene, Moundridge, Lindsborg, and other participating jurisdictions.

Montagne acknowledged that the cameras are drawing criticism around the country but said he is "a firm believer in them." Montagne said on Monday that the camera records are reviewed every two weeks. He also said each search records the identity of the person conducting it, describing the logs as a safeguard against improper use.

According to Flock Safety's public description of its law enforcement access controls, every query is recorded with a user ID and timestamp, and supervisors can review search histories. Flock says access is restricted to authorized users and that searches must include an investigative reason.

Flock also says agencies control whether their information is shared with other jurisdictions and that sharing is not automatic.

Under Flock's license-plate-reader policy, updated June 30, 2026, data is deleted on a rolling seven-day basis by default. The company allows a customer to use a longer or shorter period when required by local law or policy.

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