Roadside cameras going dark: Another department makes changes to program over accountability concerns

Another police department is making changes to the roadside cameras that automatically scan license plates amid growing concerns over who has access to the data, 5 INVESTIGATES has learned.

The city of Brooklyn Park canceled its contract with the company Flock Safety at the end of December. According to city council minutes, the city signed on with Flock in the fall of 2024 to operate eight cameras around the city at a cost of $28,000.

Inspector Matt Rabe said they cancelled the contract “due to concerns over customer support and poor data sharing protocols.” 

“Accountability mechanisms must be robust,” he said in an email, adding that they still believe in the technology and are looking for a new vendor.

While Brooklyn Park did not specifically cite immigration, there continue to be questions over whether federal authorities have access to the network of cameras around the state amid a h...