Council approves $451,000 license‑plate reader contract with Flock amid privacy concerns

The Midland City Council approved a 24‑month sole‑source subscription with Flock Group Incorporated (a license‑plate recognition provider) at a total cost of $451,000.

Police staff described the system as a law‑enforcement tool that had helped recover nearly $4 million in property and contributed to stolen‑vehicle recoveries and case leads in 2025. The chief said the system helps officers develop intelligence and deploy resources more efficiently and described it as “absolutely a force multiplier.”

IT staff explained that the cameras capture still images of license plates and vehicle characteristics rather than continuous video and that the system’s default retention is 30 days with a hard delete after that period. Data retained longer for active investigations is exported into the department’s evidence system for evidentiary retention; the Flock system itself clears after 30 days regardless.

Kristen McLeod, a vendor public‑affairs representative, disputed online claims that Flock systems have been hacked, saying “That is patently false” and describing the company’s SOC 2/CJIS compliance and other security measures.

Public commenter Shandy Williams urged the council to reject the contract, calling automated license‑plate readers “a mass surveillance system that tracks every vehicle, every resident, every visitor without suspicion of wrongdoing,” and cited other U.S. cities that have ended Flock contracts. Council members pressed staff on retention, audit logs and access; staff said searches require justification and case numbers in most instances and that access by private partners is limited to allowing police access (private entities do not receive police system access).

The motion to approve the contract was made, seconded, and carried unanimously.