Englewood drops Flock license plate cameras
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Englewood could cover its 12 automatic license plate-readers (ALPRs) with garbage bags if Flock Safety doesn't promptly remove them after City Council canceled the company's contract Tuesday.
State of play: Englewood has no replacement lined up for its stationary readers after council unanimously dropped Flock and deadlocked on a proposed contract with competitor Axon.
- The city pays Flock $64,500 annually for its ALPR system.
What they're saying: "Whether we use Flock or Axon, it's no different," Councilmember Rita Russell said. "They both do the same thing."
In the room: Council voted 6–0 to terminate Flock, which Englewood police began using in 2023.
- Mayor Othoniel Sierra said the city couldn't fully regulate who accessed its data once cameras captured it.
"It just seems to be a flaw in the system," Sierra said.
The council deadlocked 3–3 on an Axon replacement.
- Axon proposed 12 stationary cameras — plus a mobile trailer — under a five-year contract that would have cost $42,034 annually.
- Police told council members Englewood would control its data under Axon and decide which agencies could search the data.
Yes, but: Councilmember Jack Bethel said an expanding ALPR network could approach a legal "boundary of observation."
- "I don't know if we have the plan in place and all of the safeguards we need," he said.
Meanwhile, Russell asked city attorney Tamara Niles how Englewood could ensure Flock removes its cameras and noted that other cities have covered theirs with garbage bags.
- Niles said Englewood police have seen Flock cover cameras rather than remove them — perhaps hoping customers eventually resume service.
- She added that Flock couldn't legally continue capturing Englewood data after its contract ends.
- The city's contract doesn't appear to set a removal deadline.
If officials suspect "nefarious data capture that's not authorized," Niles said Englewood could take down and store the cameras until Flock retrieves them.
Why it matters: Englewood joins a growing list of Colorado communities rethinking Flock amid privacy and surveillance concerns.
- Denver replaced Flock with Axon this year.
- Douglas County plans to swap 50 Flock cameras for 100 Axon readers after Sheriff Darren Weekly said "trust was lost" with Flock.
- Durango plans to switch from Flock to Axon in 2027.
What's next: Niles said terminating Flock could cost the city a $27,500 annual service fee, plus $6,000 for camera removal.
- Police are trying to negotiate those costs down.