Council renews Flock ALPR agreement amid privacy questions and public concern

The Committee of the Whole approved ordinance 2026-315 to continue the Springfield Police Department's contract for automatic license-plate readers (ALPRs) with Flock Group, Inc. at a stated cost of $58,000 for the March 1, 2026'Feb. 28, 2028 term.

Police Chief told councilors the ALPR system is a "very impactful tool" used daily by the department's real-time information center and analysts. "Seventy percent of the calls for service that we answer, 70% of the crimes that we investigate, Flock is used to investigate that to some extent," the chief said, describing ALPRs as particularly useful in investigating vehicle-borne gun crimes and in locating suspects.

Privacy, policy and access
Council members pressed for details on policy, retention, and outside access. The chief said the department has a formal policy drafted in 2022 with input from the ACLU and that plates captured for routine scanning are retained for no more than 30 days. He said evidence tied to a criminal investigation can be retained longer in the department's evidence-management platform. He also said the system captures rear license-plate images only and does not include facial recognition or audio.

On third-party access and vendor controls the chief said, "From my understanding, they [Flock] do not have access to our data. They are not authorized to do that and they're not authorized to sell it to a third party either." He added that the department shares ALPR data with other local jurisdictions that operate compatible systems but said the city does not share with federal agencies.

Public concerns and calls for safeguards
Members of the public urged caution. A public commenter cited a state-level audit and alleged examples of vendor misuse in other jurisdictions, saying the vendor "has broken its own rules" and warning that license-plate data can be compiled into larger databases and sold to brokers. Danielle Webster asked what safeguards will be put in place to avoid disproportionate harm to vulnerable residents and whether the city will make data-release practices public.

Council response and follow-up
Councilors requested a copy of the ALPR policy and related ACLU recommendations; the chief agreed to provide the policy and any pertinent documentation. Staff reiterated that access to the system is audited and requires a case number for investigative queries.

Outcome
After a long Q&A and public comment period, the Committee moved the Flock payment ordinance forward on consent. Councilors and commenters asked staff to provide the written policy and any contract provisions that limit outside access and permit termination should evidence of misuse emerge.

Sources: ordinance 2026-315, chief and council Q&A, public comments (SEG 1291'SEG 2161).