# Local Agencies Renew and Cancel Flock Safety Contracts

Several local law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are actively managing contracts with Flock Safety, a provider of AI-powered license plate recognition and surveillance cameras. Harris County, Texas, recently renewed its contract for license plate-reading cameras through June 2027 at a cost just under $869,000, citing their effectiveness in crime-solving. Conversely, multiple jurisdictions including Dayton, Ohio, and Evanston, Illinois, have suspended or canceled contracts due to concerns over unauthorized data sharing with federal immigration authorities and privacy risks. In Troy, New York, controversy surrounds the installation of 26 AI surveillance cameras without city council approval, prompting a mayoral state of emergency declaration to maintain their operation amid legal and governance disputes.

- Procurement professionals should note the growing scrutiny on AI surveillance technologies, emphasizing the need for clear data governance, transparency, and compliance with local legal frameworks.
- Contract renewals and cancellations reflect divergent local policy approaches, indicating that vendors must tailor proposals to address privacy concerns and community acceptance.
- Agencies considering similar technologies should evaluate contractual safeguards on data access, ownership, and auditability to mitigate risks and public opposition.
- The Troy case highlights potential procurement governance challenges when deploying surveillance technology without full municipal approval, underscoring the importance of adherence to procurement protocols and stakeholder engagement.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Regulatory Compliance, Cybersecurity
**Published:** May 29, 2026

### Government Entities
- Harris County Sheriff's Office
- City of Troy
- Troy Police Department
- Dayton Police Department
- City of Evanston

### Vendors
- Flock Safety (prime contractor)

### Key Quotes
> Troy’s police chief has described the cameras as essential for solving everything from homicides to missing persons cases.
> — Carmella Mantello, Mayor of Troy, New York

> At Flock, we believe safety and privacy should go hand in hand, which is why our technology is built around transparency, accountability, and local control.
> — Chris Castaldo, Chief Information Security Officer, Flock Safety

> The cameras are used in almost every investigation our detective bureau pursues.
> — Steven Barker, Deputy Police Chief

### Sources
- [Flock Safety faces a growing wave of contract cancellations](https://rollingout.com/2026/05/29/flock-safety-faces-a-growing-wave-of) - Rolling Out
- [Harris County renews flock cameras amid concerns over potential privacy and misuse - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/harris-county-renews-flock-cameras-033210000.html) - AOL.com
- [State of Emergency declared in NY town after police install dozens of AI cameras without permission - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/state-emergency-declared-ny-town-101419000.html) - AOL.com