WESTLAND, Mich. – Westland will remove its 10 Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras when the city’s contract expires at the end of the month, following resident criticism and a split among city leaders over privacy, data access and the technology’s role in policing.
The cameras, located mainly around Ford Road, capture license plates and vehicle information that police can search when investigating crimes.
Recommended Videos
Westland City Councilwoman Melissa Sampey said recent council meetings drew repeated public comments questioning whether the technology is worth the cost and what it means for privacy.
“It really became apparent that the community was against it,” Sampey said.
Police Chief Kyle Dawley decided not to bring a renewal contract to the Westland City Council for approval. In a statement, the Westland Police Department said discussions with council members about how the cameras are used showed the council is “deeply split on this matter.”
Sampey said the controversy mainly centered around who can access the data.
“The access of the information of your license plate follows you any place that you go that has a Flock camera, and anyone can access it from basically any police station across the country,” Sampey said, adding that she had the chance to view the software herself.
City Council President Mike McDermott said he initially supported a two-year trial but now believes that vote was a mistake.
In a statement, McDermott said he opposes continued use of the cameras, citing privacy and constitutional concerns, including worries about corporate data-sharing practices and access by outside agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
McDermott also credited residents and local advocacy groups, including DeFlock Michigan and the Socialists of Western-Wayne, for repeatedly raising concerns at council meetings. While he acknowledged police view the cameras as a useful investigative tool, he said residents shouldn’t “be monitored everywhere we drive” and praised city leaders for working with the community to end the program.
Online reaction to the decision was mixed, with some commenters calling the removal a step backward for crime-fighting and others praising council members for listening to residents.
Flock Safety defended the technology’s value in a statement, arguing that removing systems used to solve violent crimes and find missing people can slow investigations.
The company said that in 2025 its technology supported more than one million criminal investigations and incidents, contributed to an estimated 20% of solved cases in jurisdictions where it is deployed, and helped locate more than 10,000 missing people.
“Cases will take longer to solve, organized retail theft crews will operate with fewer obstacles, an Amber Alert may not be returned home, and victims may wait longer, or indefinitely, for justice,” the company stated.
Sampey said residents shouldn’t expect a change in day-to-day policing.
“What you’re receiving in Westland isn’t going to be changed because they do have technology that’s going to allow them to do their job,” Sampey said. “Our officers are well trained to do what they need to do to keep people in Westland safe.”