# Columbia Rejects Flock Contract Renewal

Columbia, Missouri’s City Council voted 5–2 against automatically renewing the city’s Flock Safety camera agreements when they expire in March 2027. The vote does not end the current agreements: more than 100 cameras remain in service through their term, and the agreements total $584,850. A public hearing on the renewal was scheduled for November 9, 2026; the available signals do not report its outcome. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe plans to ask the Columbia Police Department to assess alternatives emphasizing local data ownership and privacy safeguards. No replacement solicitation has been announced.

- The decision creates a potential future market opportunity for public-safety camera and automated license-plate-reader providers, but it is not an active procurement.
- Companies evaluating a possible future opportunity should assess how their solutions address local data ownership and privacy safeguards, the priorities identified in the signals.
- The current system remains under contract through March 2027, giving the city time to assess alternatives before the agreements expire.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** November 10, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of Columbia
- Columbia City Council
- Columbia Police Department (CPD)

### Vendors
- Flock Safety (incumbent)

### Key Quotes
> I strongly support technology for public safety, but recent red flags and concerns over Flock’s long-term viability mean we need a more reliable partner.
> — Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor of Columbia

### Sources
- [Columbia City Council seeks residents' views on Flock | Columbia | komu.com](https://www.komu.com/news/columbia/columbia-city-council-seeks-residents-views-on-flock-ahead-of-march-contract-vote/article_73b5f6cd-8a89-4af2-bdf3-8461e026ea21.html) - KOMU 8
- [Columbia City Council votes against Flock contract renewal 
(FLOCK'S NOW A POLITICAL LIABILITY TO ELECTED OFFICIALS!!)
https://t.co/Q03v26ZDPp via @komunews](https://x.com/OnlineFreeUSA/status/2120107383645262057) - twitter-sled
- [Columbia City Council votes against automatic renewal of Flock contract 
(FLOCK'S BECOME A POLITICAL LIABILITY TO ELECTED OFFICIALS!!)
https://t.co/cZZotqqB50](https://x.com/OnlineFreeUSA/status/2120105970705862687) - twitter-sled