The City of Ferndale has ended its contract with Flock Safety, the automatic license plate reader vendor, and shut down the Flock cameras on Thursday. Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi said, "Essentially, the community and elected body lost trust in the company." The cameras had been used in criminal investigations, including a murder case, and the city is looking for a new vendor, according to Audacy.
The partnership's end was determined by the Ferndale Police Department, with the approval of the City Council and input from staff and community feedback, Reilly Coleman, City of Ferndale Communications Director, clarified to OaklandCounty115. While the cameras will come down at an undetermined date, their system is no longer active. Flock Safety's devices had been active for approximately two years in the city, obtaining plate numbers and holding images for thirty days for police reviews in cases of crime.
Ferndale police say license plate reader technology helped track serious crime suspects, including in a Hazel Park double murder case. Amy Wilcox, superintendent of the Hazel Park school district, said, "Without that, we would not have been able to get that the way we did," during a community discussion reported by FOX 2 Detroit. The city is looking for a new ALPR vendor to replace Flock Safety, considering factors like cost, image quality, and community standards. The search continues while officials address concerns from the public.
