Ferndale police recommend two-year renewal of Flock ALPR pilot, propose scaling back to nine cameras amid community concern

The Ferndale Police Department recommended renewing its Flock Safety automatic license plate reader (ALPR) contract for two years and scaling the system back to nine cameras, the department told the City Council in a lengthy presentation and question-and-answer session.

The recommendation — presented by the police chief and Flock representatives — would reduce the current pilot deployment from 15 cameras (initially 16) to nine placed on major approaches into the city (east‑ and westbound Eight Mile Road, north‑ and southbound Woodward Avenue and Ninth Mile), and fund the two‑year renewal using seized drug‑forfeiture funds. The department provided a per‑camera cost of about $3,000 per year, or roughly $27,000 per year and $54,000 total for two years.

Why it matters: Chiefs and investigators said the network produced investigative leads in violent cases — including homicides, attempted homicides, armed robberies, carjackings and other major crimes — and that the system is a force multiplier for detectives and patrol. Opponents said the contract and Flock’s evolving national policies pose privacy and civil‑liberties risks for Ferndale residents and visitors.

What the department presented

The police chief said the pilot began as a March 2023 council action, with installation delayed by permitting and supply chain problems until February 2024. The department originally installed 16 cameras; eight were purchased with forfeiture funds and…