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Ferndale Ends Flock Deal as Bay City Plans Vote and Syracuse Pushes to Cut Ties

Privacy concerns over data access are pushing cities to set stricter rules for license-plate data.

Overview

  • Ferndale terminated its contract with Flock Safety on Thursday after community pushback, but the city will keep using ALPRs and seek a new vendor.
  • Ferndale police credited the cameras with helping solve major cases, including a local homicide and a double killing in nearby Hazel Park.
  • Bay City is slated to vote Nov. 17 on a two‑year agreement for 13 Flock cameras, with costs of $45,150 in FY2026 and $39,000 in FY2027.
  • Bay City’s draft policy requires deletion of non‑investigative data after 30 days, prohibits facial recognition and immigration enforcement use, and restricts access to authorized agencies with agreements.
  • In Syracuse, two councilors proposed revoking the city’s Flock authorization after police said local data had been searchable in a national database later opted out by the department.