The Sheboygan Common Council is scheduled to vote Sept. 8 on ending its contract with Flock Safety, the AI-powered license plate reader system, after city officials cited violations of contract terms and concerns over trust. The decision follows the immediate disabling of 15 Flock cameras on Aug. 25, halting further data collection.
City officials cite contract violations
City Administrator Casey Bradley and Sheboygan Police Chief Kurt Zempel announced plans to terminate the two-year contract with Flock Safety, which was initially approved in late 2023 for $93,750 and automatically renewed for another two-year term at an annual cost of $45,000. The city funded the service through grants. According to a news release, the department learned in July that Flock was engaging in actions “inconsistent with the terms and expectations of the City's contract and which undermine trust in the services provided.” Specific details about the violations will be discussed at the Sept. 8 meeting.
The cameras were covered on Aug. 25, preventing further data collection. The city’s contract with Flock included features such as license plate lookup, search capabilities for partial or temporary plates by time and location, and access to vehicle information.
Tempe follows suit amid privacy concerns
Sheboygan’s decision aligns with a broader trend of cities terminating or pausing contracts with Flock Safety. Tempe, Arizona, shut down its network of 33 Flock cameras in August, citing privacy risks and the potential for misuse, despite acknowledging the system’s utility in investigations. Tempe Mayor Corey Woods stated that while the cameras assisted police, the risk of misuse outweighed the benefits. The city will not replace the system with another provider.
Existing records from Tempe’s Flock system are generally deleted after 30 days unless tied to an active case. Tempe police reported that monthly audits found no improper searches, though a nearby city, Apache Junction, placed an officer on administrative leave after allegations of using the system to track his wife.
Background on Flock Safety’s technology
Flock Safety’s license plate readers use AI to capture and analyze license plate data, assisting law enforcement in identifying vehicles linked to crimes. The system allows agencies to search for specific vehicles across a network of tens of thousands of cameras nationwide. However, the technology has faced criticism over concerns about mass surveillance, data sharing with federal authorities, and potential misuse by law enforcement.
In Wisconsin, Oshkosh also discontinued its Flock cameras after the police chief raised issues related to trust and data access. The Los Angeles Police Department allowed its Flock agreement to expire following an audit that raised concerns about federal agencies’ access to the data.
The Sheboygan Common Council’s vote on Sept. 8 will determine whether the city formally ends its contract with Flock Safety, marking a potential shift in the city’s approach to automated license plate reader technology.