Madison Heights disconnects its Flock cameras; Hazel Park to set study session on its own
Madison Heights says Flock Safety didn't give it the privacy safeguards it asked for and won't renew its contract. Next door, Hazel Park's council will consider scheduling a Flock study session Tuesday.
By OCJ Staff
Madison Heights is shutting off its Flock Safety license plate cameras and will not renew its contract with the company, the city announced Sunday, Oct. 11.
The city has three automated license plate reader cameras. They have been covered and out of use since Sept. 23, according to the Oakland County Times, and WXYZ reported the city says no new data has been collected since then.
Why the city pulled the plug
The city said it held off on a final decision while waiting for Flock to show that adequate safeguards were in place for privacy, accountability and how collected data can be used. The company's assurances did not address those concerns, the city said.
"Without clear and reliable safeguards, the City cannot continue the operation of the ALPR system at this time," the city said in its statement, according to the Oakland County Times.
The city said it remains committed to public safety and to weighing technology with attention to transparency and privacy, WXYZ reported.
The decision covers only city-operated cameras. Businesses and property owners with their own Flock cameras under separate contracts are not affected.
The announcements did not say when the contract expires or what it cost, or whether the decision was made by the City Council or the administration.
Hazel Park next
In neighboring Hazel Park, the City Council's agenda for Tuesday, Oct. 13, lists "Set Flock Camera Study Session" under new business. The agenda does not say when the session would be held or what it would cover.
A growing list
Madison Heights joins several Oakland County communities that have stepped back from Flock this fall:
- Independence Township's board voted 7-0 on Sept. 8 to end its contract and remove eight cameras.
- South Lyon's City Council voted 5-2 on Sept. 28 not to renew. Our story.
- Milford's Village Council voted Oct. 5 to end its contracts at the police chief's request. Our story.
- Ferndale ended its use of Flock in 2025.
This story uses reporting from the Oakland County Times and WXYZ and the Hazel Park City Council's Oct. 13, 2026, agenda.