US municipalities shift from Flock Safety ALPR cameras to Axon

Taos Town Council voted to redirect $54,000 away from renewing a contract with Flock Safety for 18 automated license‑plate‑reader (ALPR) cameras, keeping the funds in the police operating budget. Council members cited privacy and artificial‑intelligence concerns raised by residents, and Police Chief Ron Montez Jr. attended the meeting. No further plan for the cameras has been announced.

The Taos decision mirrors a broader national pattern. Since mid‑2024, more than 50 U.S. municipalities have cancelled or rejected Flock Safety contracts, turning to Axon, which already supplies body‑camera and taser equipment and provides basic ALPR software. Notable cases include the Los Angeles Police Department letting its Flock agreement lapse, Monroe County, Indiana ending its contract early, Pea Ridge, Arkansas dropping the program, Denver replacing 110 Flock cameras with 50 Axon units, and Douglas County, Colorado signing a 10‑year Axon deal. Privacy worries and data‑sharing policies are driving the shift, though Axon’s ALPR functionality continues to be used.