Kalamazoo Flock Camera Debate Intensifies as Petition Gains Traction to Remove Surveillance System

Public Safety Chief Defends Cameras That Helped Solve Dozens of Homicides

A petition calling for the removal of Kalamazoo's automated license plate reader cameras has collected nearly 60 percent of its signature goal as community leaders and public safety officials continue to debate the surveillance technology at city hall.

The "Get the Flock Out of Kalamazoo" petition, sponsored by the Southwest Michigan Democratic Socialists of America, has gathered 470 signatures toward its 800-signature target as of Tuesday night. The petition asks the Kalamazoo City Commission to terminate all contracts with Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company that operates the camera network, and redirect the saved funds toward housing, health, and education.

KDPS Chief Cites Homicide Solutions as Key Justification for Keeping Cameras

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Dave Boysen testified before the city commission in February that the Flock cameras have played a critical role in solving violent crime since their installation in June 2021.

According to Boysen, eight consecutive homicides investigated by KDPS were solved using license plate reader data. The department has used the technology in 23 homicide investigations since 2021, he said.

Boysen told commissioners that overall murders are down 53 percent compared to five years before the cameras were in place. Gun violence statistics have followed a similar trajectory during the same period.

"Flock cameras are a carefully governed tool that balances public safety with strong privacy protections," Boysen told the commission. "They have proven effective in saving lives, solving serious crime, and reducing violence while remaining transparent, accountable, and used in a manner consistent with the law and the values of our community."

The public safety chief cited several specific cases where Flock data helped locate suspects and recover victims. In one 2021 incident, officers used Flock data to locate a stolen vehicle within two hours that contained two children, an 18-month-old and a 5-year-old, after their mother was also inside the vehicle.

In July 2023, a kidnapping suspect who had assaulted residents and abducted an infant was tracked through a Flock camera that captured his vehicle leaving the city. KDPS said officers stopped the vehicle and returned the child to the mother within 25 minutes.

During what Boysen called "the day of death" in April 2023, when police responded to 18 overdoses resulting in seven fatalities, Flock data aided in the arrest of the responsible drug distributor.

Property Crime and Auto Theft Have Also Declined According to Boysen

Boysen reported that property crime is down 39 percent citywide and motor vehicle theft has dropped 35 percent compared to the pre-Flock period. Assaults with firearms have decreased 49 percent, and reports of shots fired have dropped 57 percent.

Officers now review license plate reader data following virtually every shots-fired and non-fatal shooting incident, according to Boysen. The department has used the cameras in multiple sex trafficking investigations as well.

KDPS installed 35 Flock cameras in June 2021 with an annual cost of approximately $95,000, according to previous reporting. The cameras capture an image of every passing vehicle and store it for 30 days, alerting officers when a plate connected to a stolen vehicle or serious crime passes by.

Civil Rights Leaders Support Keeping the Cameras

Kalamazoo NAACP Branch President Wendy Fields told the commission that her organization supports the cameras after meeting with KDPS leadership in recent weeks. Fields offered to host a community forum and Q&A session on the issue.

Bishop Daniel Cunningham of Kalamazoo and Pastor Greg Jennings, coordinator of KDPS' Pastors on Patrol program, also spoke in favor of the technology during public comment.

"I certainly hope and pray that we continue using Flock because it is doing something that the naked eye cannot do," Jennings said during public comment. "In a city where crime is happening a lot, we need to have all the advantages that we can."

One resident told the commission she had been in the same chamber years earlier asking for help addressing crime in her neighborhood.

"Yes, I stand with the previous speakers in saying let's keep the tool, let's protect people from ICE," she said. "But let's keep the tool."

Opponents Raise Concerns About Federal Surveillance and Data Privacy

Community members opposing the technology say they are less focused on the cameras' crime-fighting record and more concerned about what happens to the data after it is collected, particularly amid an unpredictable federal political climate.

The petition argues that Flock's system allows ICE to pull license plate data without a warrant, enabling federal agents to track and detain undocumented residents. It also cites a case in which law enforcement used license plate data to locate a woman who had sought an abortion, and argues there is almost zero public oversight of how data is collected, stored, or shared.

"Our federal government is out of control and it is paramount we don't give them the tools that can surveil our community," the petition reads.

One Kalamazoo resident speaking at the commission expressed worry about federal overreach, now and in the future.

"Any president in the future can call the military into any state and they can federalize all police forces," he said.

The petition alleges that 75 percent of Flock's law enforcement customers have enrolled in the National Lookup Tool, which allows information sharing across agencies nationwide. One resident also told commissioners she had observed discrepancies in Flock's own transparency portals.

KDPS Maintains Data Is Not Shared With Federal Agencies or Nationwide Platforms

Chief Boysen has been emphatic about the boundaries KDPS has placed around data sharing. The department said it shares information only with approved law enforcement partners in Southwest Michigan, such as Portage Police, Kalamazoo County, Calhoun County, and Michigan State Police.

According to Boysen, KDPS data is not shared on any nationwide search platform and is not shared with ICE or other federal agencies.

"KDPS maintains 100 percent control of all data captured by the license plate readers," Boysen said to the city commission in February.

The department's publicly posted FAQ states that any request for data beyond approved local partners must be individually reviewed and approved by KDPS staff. All system searches are permanently logged, and search filters prevent the system from being used for prohibited purposes, including immigration enforcement and investigations related to reproductive health services.

Flock Safety states on its website that federal agencies do not have direct access to the company's systems or data unless local agencies explicitly permit it. The company said it does not maintain a centralized database of license plate data across customers. Each agency maintains full ownership of its own data, including the city of Kalamazoo.

Commission Approved Consent Agenda Without Policy Change

During the Monday night city commission meeting, residents, faith leaders, and civil rights activists went toe-to-toe over security measures and the technology's future. The commission approved the consent agenda, which included five procurement and contract items. No change to camera policy was adopted.

Mayor Anderson and commissioners thanked speakers and the chief for his presentation. The commission did not adopt new restrictions at the meeting.

The debate is expected to continue as the petition grows closer to its signature goal and public comment periods at future commission meetings remain open on the topic.