Tim Burchett

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett wants to limit video surveillance cameras and real-time information centers like the one the Knox County Sheriff's Office is building.

Burchett, a former Knox County mayor, told Knox News on July 22 he was surprised when he learned the KCSO planned to use Flock Safety surveillance cameras to prevent violent crime.

"I heard about it when they first started going and at first I thought, 'That can't be right,'" Burchett said.

Burchett's legislation would bar federal grant dollars from going toward surveillance cameras.

KCSO's real-time information center will be a one-stop shop for the data recorded by license plate readers, which only take still images, and new video cameras KCSO purchased. Footage from the license plate readers is stored for 30 days and then deleted unless it's being used in an investigation. KCSO staffers can also tap into the cameras and view a live feed.

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The ban would only apply to federal crime prevention grants, so it would not affect state grants like the $1.5 million one KCSO used to get the Flock cameras. If Burchett's legislation is successful and KCSO wants to find other sources of funding for its communications center, federal grants wouldn't be an option.

"I've been aware of it, and I don't like it," Burchett told Knox News. "And the public hates it."

On July 21, Sheriff Tom Spangler and Mayor Glenn Jacobs agreed to not operate the cameras or the Advanced Research and Communications Center until after their terms in office end Sept. 1. After that, it'll be up to the next sheriff and his administration to decide how to move forward.

Jacobs told Knox News he had major concerns about the cameras, and Knox County Commissioner Adam Thompson said county leaders weren't aware the grant would pay for video surveilling when they approved KCSO's contract with the state.

"I think people were just kind of caught off guard, even members of law enforcement," said Burchett, who lives in Thompson's district. "I think there was a miscommunication between the whole thing. (Jacobs) is a libertarian when it comes to this stuff. There's no way he would've agreed to that."

The Knox County Commission on July 27 will hear from KCSO officials and representatives from Flock Safety, which makes the cameras. After that, commissioners will vote on a resolution from Thompson that requests KCSO provide the commission and the public with information about security protections, third-party vendors, camera use, auditing and more.

While talking to Knox News about the cameras, Burchett took particular issue with Flock Safety. The company made national news after police officers misused its camera network to track women for personal reasons.

"It's too much," Burchett said. "I see it as a very slippery slope."

Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie