Full Breakdown
Flock Safety Faces Contract Terminations and Workforce Buyouts After License-Plate Reader Misuse Allegations
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Eastpointe Terminates Flock Contract Over Misuse
On September 16, 2026, the Eastpointe City Council voted 4-1 to end its contract with Flock Safety after the police department concluded that two employees misused the company’s license-plate reader system—one for personal purposes and the other in violation of department policy. The council’s decision follows a police-chief-led investigation that identified “severe discipline” for the employee who used the system personally, while the second case remains under investigation. The department will discontinue use of the 18 Flock cameras and begin reviewing alternative investigative tools.
Background & Context
Flock Safety, founded in 2017, raised capital at a valuation exceeding $8 billion in a funding round that closed in April 2024. Its license-plate reader technology has been deployed in multiple municipalities across Michigan and elsewhere. Recent contract cancellations include Bedford Township’s Downtown Development Authority and several law-enforcement agencies in Livingston County, citing privacy concerns and equipment damage.
In Savannah, Georgia, three former police employees faced termination and criminal charges for alleged personal use of the city’s Flock system. A Civil Service Board hearing on September 15, 2026 examined whether the officers received adequate training on system policies before being fired.
Data & Statistics
- Eastpointe’s 18 cameras helped solve 39 crimes in 2024, 54 crimes in 2025, and 46 crimes so far in 2026, covering theft, fraud, hit-and-runs, drive-by shootings, and homicides.
- Flock’s voluntary buyout program offers employees “tens of thousands of dollars,” several months of health-care coverage, and a two-year window to exercise stock options—approximately double the company’s prior severance offers. Applicants will learn the status of their buyout requests on October 9, and most accepted employees are slated to depart by October 29, though some may be retained for an additional one to three months.
Official Statements & Responses
- Corey Haines, police chief – “Additional safeguards have been implemented to prevent the misuse of all sensitive information. The City has and will continue to review any reports of misuse of Flock systems in accordance with City of Eastpointe Police Department policies and procedures.”
- Michael Klinefelt, mayor – “I know that our police chief has worked hard to put policies in place for our personnel, but the nature of Flock is it is part of a network where information is shared with other law-enforcement agencies, and frankly we don’t have control over what other agencies are doing and how they’re enforcing their rules.”
- Rob Baker, council member – “I believe it’s still a useful tool and I think of crimes of a serious nature that they can be used to help solve.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The police department disclosed the disciplinary outcome for the employee who used the system personally but provided no details on the “severe discipline” or the specific actions taken against the second employee. The city has not released the individual personnel records cited as exempt from disclosure, leaving the full scope of the investigation unclear.
What’s Next
- Flock employees will receive buyout decision notifications on October 9, with most departures scheduled for October 29.
- Eastpointe officials are finalizing the contract-termination procedure and evaluating alternative surveillance technologies.
- The Savannah Civil Service Board is expected to issue a recommendation within seven to ten business days, after which the city manager will make a final decision on the appealed terminations.