Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Surveillance Privacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Westland leaders to remove ALPR "Flock" cameras after council declines renewal
Summary
Residents praised the council’s decision not to renew a Flock ALPR contract but urged immediate steps to deactivate and physically remove cameras, provide a public inventory and ensure data is not collected after contract end.
Residents who spoke at the Westland City Council urged the city to verify that automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) installed under a private contract are fully deactivated and removed now that the council and administration do not intend to renew the contract.
"I urge you to publicly verify that every camera installed in Westland gets completely deactivated and physically removed," said Jennifer Palmeri, a Westland resident who addressed the council. Palmeri and several others said merely 'bagging' cameras would be insufficient because some ALPR systems can continue to detect and log signals or identifiers even if the camera lens is covered.
Multiple speakers recounted safety and privacy concerns. One resident described a friend who left an abusive relationship and feared the surveillance could be used to stalk survivors; others pointed to software updates that can use nearby phone signals to identify devices. “This is dangerous. This is time sensitive,” one speaker said. Speakers called for a public inventory of camera locations and a verified timeline for removal, and urged the city to engage with businesses that host cameras to encourage removal.
Several commenters thanked council members and the police chief for the decision not to renew the city’s contract with the vendor known as Flock. Speakers including Jill Roster and Ryan-organizers said they will monitor whether affiliated contracts (for example, with the Downtown Development Authority) are also terminated.
Administration and elected officials acknowledged residents’ concerns but did not present a detailed removal schedule at the meeting. Council members and the deputy mayor said they would stay after the meeting to follow up with residents who requested more information about deactivation and removal plans.
What’s next: Residents asked for a verified public inventory and timeline for camera removal, and the council/administration said they will follow up with more details to the public as they work through contract and property-hosting arrangements.
