License plate reading cameras coming down in Westland
The highly controversial Flock Safety license plate reading cameras will be removed from all 10 sites in Westland at the end of this month.
Westland Police Chief Kyle Dawley issued a statement stating he would not bring the renewal of the contract for the devices to members of the city council for a vote following strident public criticism of the cameras and apparent divergent opinions among council members. The city contract for the cameras expires at the end of July.
Flock cameras are a specialized Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) manufactured by Flock Safety. Each camera is solar-powered and pole-mounted device that captures the license plate, vehicle make, model, color, and unique identifying features (like bumper stickers or dents) of every passing car, storing the data in a searchable database.
The cameras are marketed as a vital tool for recovering stolen vehicles and solving violent crimes, but civil rights organizations like the ACLU argue that widespread use of the devices creates a mass surveillance system that tracks the daily movements—such as doctor visits, workplaces, and places of worship—of everyday, innocent citizens without a warrant. Because of these privacy issues, major police departments have at times halted their use of the cameras.
Westland officials said the controversy regarding the devices was primarily due to access to the collected 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,” noted Councilwoman Melissa Sampey.
City Council President Mike McDermott said in a prepared statement that 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.
Westland residents and local advocacy groups, including DeFlock Michigan and the Socialists of Western-Wayne, repeatedly raised concerns regarding the constitutionality of the cameras during council meetings. McDermott said the public comments influenced his position on the use of the cameras.
Flock Safety cited the success of the cameras in solving violent crimes and finding missing people. In a statement from the business a spokesman said removing the cameras can slow police investigations. The statement claimed that in 2025 its technology “supported more than one million criminal investigations and incidents, contributed to an estimated 20 percent 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.
Police officials said no change in police procedures or local enforcement would take place following removal of the devices which are primarily installed along Ford Road.
