Valdosta council approves purchase of Flock Safety license-plate readers under grant reimbursement

Valdosta police requested and council approved a two-year agreement to acquire 17 license-plate reader cameras from Flock Safety, a system the chief said will provide investigative data and access to a regional database.

Chief Leslie Manningham told council the package before them included 17 cameras (five stationary and two mobile), camera hardware priced in the discussion at $9,750 (cameras only) and an annual maintenance/service fee listed at $52,000. Manningham summarized the total two-year cost as approximately $113,750, including hardware and two years of service.

Manningham said the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council obtained a BJA (Bureau of Justice Assistance) grant under Project Safe Neighborhood that would reimburse the city 100% for the two-year cost; if the department continues the program beyond the grant period, the annual service fee would need to be included in the city's FY28 budget and approved by council.

Council members asked about deployment priorities and Manningham said installations would target areas of high crime that lack existing coverage. After questions from council about locations and need, a councilmember moved to approve the request, a second was recorded and council approved the purchase by show of hands.

Why it matters: License-plate readers can expand law enforcement's investigative tools and provide regional data-sharing benefits, but they also carry privacy and budget implications if the city continues the service after the grant period.

What to watch: If the council authorizes future funding in FY28 for the service fee, that will create an ongoing budgetary commitment; council discussion noted the initial two-year cost is expected to be fully reimbursed by grant funding.