When shootings happen along North Aurora Avenue in Seattle, one question deserves to be asked: Why aren't more measures being taken to help document these incidents, identify those responsible, and protect the people who live, work, and travel along this corridor?
For residents, business owners, commuters, and families, gun violence is not simply a headline in the news. It is a concern about personal safety, the safety of loved ones, and whether the community is doing enough to prevent the next incident.
Flock cameras have become part of the conversation about public safety in many communities. These automated license plate reader systems can capture vehicle information and help law enforcement investigate certain crimes. Depending on the system and camera configuration, however, they generally do not record a shooting itself in the way a conventional video surveillance camera might. That distinction matters when discussing what North Aurora Avenue actually needs.
What makes this question even more important?
Seattle has already recognized the need for additional camera technology in areas with concentrated crime. The city’s public-space CCTV pilot specifically included Aurora Avenue North as a target area. The Seattle Police Department says these cameras are intended to help investigate serious and violent crimes, collect evidence, and assist police responses.
There is an important distinction, though: Seattle does not contract with Flock Safety, according to a February 2026 statement from the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety Committee chair. Seattle instead uses its own public-space camera program and license-plate-reading technology in police vehicles.
So the most useful question may be not simply why there are no Flock cameras, but whether the city has placed enough effective cameras at the right locations along Aurora to help investigators document shootings and identify suspects.
I would ask city officials to provide a public accounting of camera coverage along the Aurora corridor, identify gaps, explain how camera locations are selected, and report whether the system is helping solve violent crimes.
For the public, the issue is straightforward: residents deserve to know what measures are in place to protect them, what evidence those measures produce, and what more can be done.
Where to direct your question
Seattle Police Department's public-space camera program — information about camera locations, capabilities, privacy protections, and the program's goals.
Seattle's Technology-Assisted Crime Prevention Program — details on the city's camera and investigative technology initiatives.
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