# Inkster Expands Flock Safety Surveillance System

The City of Inkster has signed a 10-year Flock Safety contract budgeted at about $241,000 annually and finalized an expansion of its surveillance system. The expansion increases license-plate readers from six to 20 and adds five cameras, 48 gunshot-detection devices, and an emergency-response drone. Data-access and privacy concerns, including an Oakland County investigation into alleged unauthorized access, put auditability and information governance at the center of procurement risk for jurisdictions considering similar systems. Michigan legislation is pending, and proposed federal bills could affect funding or grant eligibility for jurisdictions using automated surveillance technology; neither is described as enacted.

- Local governments evaluating surveillance systems should assess access controls, audit logging, and data-governance provisions alongside equipment and service costs; Inkster’s police chief said the system’s audit tool would flag potential misuse for administrative review.
- The 10-year commitment and approximately $241,000 annual budget provide a concrete example of the lifecycle cost and scope municipalities may need to evaluate when procuring integrated license-plate readers, cameras, gunshot detection, and drone response.
- Because the cited Michigan and federal measures remain pending or proposed, contractors and agencies should not treat them as current restrictions. They may factor the potential funding and grant-eligibility implications into contract planning without assuming a change in law.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity
**Published:** October 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of Inkster
- Inkster Police Department
- Oakland County
- Michigan Legislature
- U.S. Congress

### Vendors
- Flock Safety (Contract awardee and surveillance-system contractor)

### Key Quotes
> This program represents our ongoing commitment to modernizing how we approach public safety by giving our officers and first responders the tools, data and technology they need to do their jobs effectively and safely.
> — Byron Nolen, Mayor of Inkster

> To combat this, we will be using the audit system tool which will flag any potential misuse for administrative review.
> — Tamika Jenkins, Inkster Police Chief

### Sources
- [Inkster plans to expand Flock Safety surveillance system, other cities are pausing or canceling contracts](https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/10/13/inkster-plans-to-expand-flock-safety-surveillance-system-while-other-cities-are-pausing-or-canceling-contracts) - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4
- [Flock camera debate rages in Inkster](https://www.freep.com/story/news/crime/2026/10/15/flock-cameras-inkster-rashida-tlaib/92231802007) - Detroit Free Press