The River Falls Police Department announced on Tuesday that it plans to stop using its automated license plate readers, the River Falls Journal reported.
The department has used nine Flock cameras in the city. Its review looked at the company's transparency, contract practices and customer support, and the department said that review led to a loss of confidence in the provider. The decision also followed public backlash, with critics saying the cameras create a culture of surveillance.
Police Chief Gordon Young plans to ask the council to end Flock funding in the 2027 and 2028 police budgets. The city signed a four-year, $111,000 contract in 2024.
As an interim step, the department said it disabled outside-agency data sharing on Oct. 9 and will work with Public Works to cover the nine cameras. The department also said the cameras had previously helped investigations, and Young said technology can be a valuable law enforcement tool when it is backed by transparency, accountability and professional service.
