Council Recap: Flock pilot program review

Council Recap: Flock pilot program review

Published on March 25, 2026

At their March 24 meeting, the Lakewood City Council reviewed the results of a pilot program using Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology provided by Flock Safety Inc., and considered an agreement to continue certain elements of the system.

The discussion followed several months of community input and drew significant public participation, with more than 40 speakers sharing perspectives on the use of the technology and Flock Safety as a company.

The pilot program included the deployment of 59 license plate recognition cameras and 10 video cameras at high-traffic locations throughout the city. According to the staff report, the system was used as an investigative tool in a number of cases, including assisting with arrests, recovering stolen vehicles and generating investigative leads.

The modified proposed agreement would have continued the system for a one-year term without the acoustic audio detection element nor an automatic renewal provision.

Public comment reflected a wide range of views. Some residents expressed concerns related to privacy, data use and civil liberties and Flock's track record in other communities, while others voiced support for the technology as an important crime fighting tool.

After much discussion including questions and answers with Flock officials, the City Council voted 3-2 not to move forward with the proposed agreement.

City officials thanked the members of the public for their thoughtful comment and noted that public safety remains a top priority for the city, and that its commitment to making Lakewood as safe a community as can be is ongoing.

• Council Recap