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Commissioners renew Flock camera contract after queries about data access and security
Summary
Government Operations approved a renewal and purchase order to Flock Safety for cameras and services; law‑enforcement staff said Flock retains plate/image data for 30 days and only agencies using Flock can query it; commissioners asked the vendor to confirm it does not sell data and to provide cybersecurity and data‑access assurances.
Government Operations debated and then approved renewal funding and a purchase order for Flock Safety camera hardware and services covering Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026. Commissioners raised privacy and data‑security concerns during the discussion and asked staff to obtain vendor assurances that the company does not sell surveillance data and to provide details about its cybersecurity protocols.
Captain Jason Murphy of the Sheriff’s Office described operational safeguards: license‑plate data are retained on Flock’s cloud for 30 days unless downloaded and attached to an investigation; only law‑enforcement agencies with Flock access can run queries; images and video are available to investigators and can support missing persons and stolen‑vehicle investigations. "The only people that can access that are law enforcement agencies that utilize Flock already," he said, and added that images are deleted automatically unless preserved as part of a case file.
Commissioners asked staff to forward a vendor statement clarifying whether Flock sells data to third parties and to summarize the company’s cybersecurity practices and where data are stored. Staff said the renewal is grant‑funded and that more contractual detail will be provided; Captain Murphy said Flock has been used successfully in multiple investigations.
What happens next: staff agreed to review the vendor contract and provide written confirmation about data‑sale policies and security protocols before the next meeting.
