Oklahoma City Council Renews Flock Safety Camera Contract

The Oklahoma City Council voted 5-3 to renew a one-year, $270,000 contract with Flock Safety for automatic license plate readers. The decision followed a Tuesday morning meeting marked by strong public opposition from residents and the group DeFlock OKC, who cited privacy violations and documented system misuse.

Opponents highlighted a case where a police sergeant used the cameras to stalk his estranged wife from December 2024 to April 2025, an action that led to a three-day suspension and one year of probation. Councilmembers JoBeth Hamon, Camal Pennington, and James Cooper voted against the renewal, with Hamon arguing that the potential benefits of the system do not outweigh the costs.

Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy acknowledged two instances of employee misuse but maintained that the technology is essential for identifying stolen vehicles and missing persons. To mitigate privacy concerns, Bacy announced that the department is voluntarily reducing its data retention period from 30 days to seven days. He also committed to implementing stricter audits and AI-driven behavior monitoring to prevent future abuse. The National Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement applauding the council's decision to maintain the contract.