Policing Practices

City Residents Seek Public Vote on City's Surveillance Tools

After the city council approved a $2.1 million contract with Flock Safety for license-plate readers, cameras and other surveillance tools, more than 50 residents testified about privacy, data security, potential police misuse and warrantless tracking. The council approved the contract 6–4, despite the opposition. Residents then organized the “Get the Flock Out” campaign, held rallies, canvassed across the city and collected approximately 1,600 signatures toward a ballot initiative that would void the contract and prohibit comparable third-party mass-surveillance systems.