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Residents urge council to pause or end city contract with Flock ALPR cameras
Summary
During public comment, many residents urged Shaker Heights to pause or cancel its contract with Flock, citing reporting of data‑sharing with federal agencies, alleged misrepresentations, accuracy concerns, privacy and equity implications, and asked council to take prompt action.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment period to press council on the city’s contract with Flock, a vendor providing automated license‑plate readers (ALPRs). Lisa Veyhey said media reports and local developments show Flock’s practices raise significant privacy and civil‑liberties concerns and requested council 'carefully deliberate' and consider a pause. Several speakers cited national reporting on Flock, local rescindments (Oshkosh) and concerns about data uses, including potential sharing with federal immigration enforcement.
Erin Stockdale and other commenters referenced studies and local police reports that they said show ALPRs are not effective at deterring violent crime and argued funds now spent on ALPR technology (about $50,000 per year was cited by a speaker) would better serve youth programs and prevention services. Speakers asked council to continue due diligence, consider contract changes or termination, and to prioritize transparency about data access and retention.
