Fort Collins Ends Flock Safety Contract Amid Community Scrutiny

On June 16, 2026, the Fort Collins City Council reached a pivotal decision to abruptly terminate its contract with Flock Safety, concluding the city's deployment of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. The vote, which passed 6-1, was the result of mounting community opposition over the past six months regarding the implications of such technology on privacy and civil liberties. As part of this decision, the City Council has directed its staff to halt all data collection activities immediately and begin the process of dismantling the camera infrastructure, although the physical removal of the cameras will take additional time.

The Fort Collins Police Services had been utilizing Flock’s ALPR cameras for about 18 months. The city operated a total of 15 cameras, out of which 14 were actively collecting data. The strong public reaction indicated a clear unease with the extensive surveillance capabilities afforded by this technology, prompting demands for better governance and oversight of surveillance practices.

In response to these concerns, the City Council has pledged to develop a comprehensive surveillance policy that will set the groundwork for any future procurement of similar surveillance technologies. This policy is expected to involve a detailed stakeholder engagement process, which will include community input and collaboration. The finalized policy is set to be adopted by December 2026, marking a significant shift in how the city approaches the use of surveillance technologies.

The ramifications of this decision extend beyond Fort Collins. Vendors of surveillance technologies, particularly those specializing in ALPR systems like Flock Safety, should note the increasing scrutiny on such products. With the policy development process underway, companies can expect delays in procurement actions related to surveillance technology across Fort Collins, as well as potentially other municipalities following suit as they reevaluate their use of surveillance tools.

Procurement professionals should be alert to this shift in the market landscape. The Fort Collins initiative signifies a growing trend of transparency and accountability in technology procurement. As cities reassess their investment in surveillance equipment, initiatives emphasizing privacy protections and community involvement will likely shape future requests for proposals (RFPs) for ALPR and similar technologies. Additionally, the community's say in how data is collected and utilized will likely command attention in contract language moving forward.

Individuals and organizations interested in the surveillance technology space should prepare for changes that stress not only functionality and safety but also ethical considerations around data usage and consumer trust. The emphasis on community input in developing the new surveillance policy will create a framework that could redefine how both public and private sectors handle surveillance technologies in the future.