# Cities Scrutinize Flock Camera Purchases

Local law enforcement agencies across the United States acquired or renewed Flock Safety automated license plate reader systems using below-threshold purchases, sole-source justifications, and executive purchasing authority, sometimes without full elected-body review or competitive bidding. Dallas approved a three-year contract worth $5.74 million in May 2025, while Texas froze grant funding for some cameras in September 2026. The reports identify no open solicitation, but describe cancellations and vendor transitions that could lead to future recompetes and increase scrutiny of procurement controls for surveillance technology.

- Procurement teams should review whether related purchases were aggregated appropriately, approval thresholds were followed, and sole-source rationales and competition decisions are documented.
- Companies pursuing local public-safety technology work should verify the contracting authority and approval path, and address surveillance-data terms in proposals; the reports cite these issues as areas of scrutiny.
- Texas agencies and contractors should account for the September 2026 freeze on grant funding for some cameras when assessing funding availability. The reports do not identify an active solicitation.
- The reported contract cancellations and vendor transitions may create future recompete opportunities, but no specific procurement timetable is provided.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Digital Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of Dallas
- Dallas Police Department
- Knox County Sheriff's Office
- State of Texas
- Denver City Council

### Vendors
- Flock Safety (Awardee)

### Key Quotes
> If you hit the exact price, minus ten bucks, it's a red flag to me. That shows a pattern of buying things right under the threshold again and again and again.
> — Larsen Jay, County Commissioner

> This isn't just one camera on a post on the side of the road. This is a national network.
> — Kyle Skeen, former Navy intelligence analyst

### Sources
- [Police Bypassed Voters to Build a Nationwide Flock License Plate Tracking Network - MotorBiscuit](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/police-bypassed-voters-to-build-a-nationwide-flock-license-plate-tracking-network) - MotorBiscuit
- [No Council Vote Required: How Flock Safety Cameras End Up in Cities That Never Approved Them](https://www.latintimes.com/no-council-vote-required-how-flock-safety-cameras-end-cities-that-never-approved-them-600351) - Latin Times