Flock surveillance camera contract concerns
St. Clair Shores
Summary
Twelve residents plus multiple council members opposed the city's 12 Flock cameras, citing hacks, FBI data access, and misuse in other cities. The council directed all cameras be bagged for six months, with a final decision in March 2027.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 9
- Last 30 days
- 1
Rising — discussed at 3 meetings since Sep 21, 2026, up from 1 in the two months before.
Impact analysis
The cameras cost about $3,000 each per year — $36,000 total — paid from drug forfeiture funds, with three years left on a five-year contract.
If reinstated, the cameras would aid police investigations — the department credits them with 40+ arrests and stolen vehicle recoveries.
Residents concerned about mass surveillance say the program erodes privacy, with data shared across hundreds of jurisdictions and previously accessed by the FBI.
Mentions & discussions (9)
City Council - Oct 19, 2026
The city's Flock camera critic returned with a fresh story: Sheboygan, WI canceled its contract after Flock tried to sell the city back its own five years of collected traffic data. He argued data retention guarantees keep shrinking and urged the council to end the program.
City Council - Oct 5, 2026
A resident keeps pressing the council to end the city's Flock camera program, citing other cities dropping contracts, a federal Fourth Amendment ruling, and misuse in Oakland County. The city is on a six-month pause while it decides.
Xiong Applauds St. Clair Shores Pausing Flock Camera Usage
Xiong Applauds St. Clair Shores Pausing Flock Camera Usage Michigan House Democrats
St. Clair Shores covers 12 Flock cameras after residents raise privacy concerns
St. Clair Shores covers 12 Flock cameras after residents raise privacy concerns ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4
St. Clair Shores covers its Flock cameras after residents raise concerns
St. Clair Shores covers its Flock cameras after residents raise concerns The Detroit News
City Council - Sep 21, 2026
Twelve residents plus multiple council members opposed the city's 12 Flock cameras, citing hacks, FBI data access, and misuse in other cities. The council directed all cameras be bagged for six months, with a final decision in March 2027.
City Council - Sep 8, 2026
Thirteen residents criticized the city's Flock license plate reader cameras, citing privacy, Fourth Amendment concerns, data breaches, and misuse by police in other cities. Council members Rusie and Vitale said they share concerns, with Vitale suggesting codifying limits, and Mayor Walby promised an update September 21.
St. Clair Shores residents call for police to suspend Flock camera use
St. Clair Shores residents call for police to suspend Flock camera use CBS News
St. Clair Shores residents concerned over Flock cameras
St. Clair Shores residents concerned over Flock cameras FOX 2 Detroit
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