Winona won’t replace Flock cameras after thefts took all of the city’s devices offline

Eight Flock cameras that were stolen across Winona will not be replaced, the city’s police department announced on Wednesday.

The Winona Police Department said its entire stock of cameras was cut down and stolen sometime between July 29 and Aug. 1, and it would have cost $3,000 to replace each camera.

RELATED: All 8 of Winona’s Flock cameras stolen as cities across the state continue to see theft, vandalism

The department said its Flock license plate readers have aided investigators in cases ranging from hit-and-run crashes to a homicide; however, residents have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for data misuse.

“While Flock has been a valuable tool, we believe its use has contributed to growing concerns about trust...