In a unanimous decision, the town of Grand Chute, Wisconsin, has opted to terminate its contract with Flock Safety, a provider of automatic license plate reader cameras, and enter into a new agreement with Axon. This decision comes amidst concerns over data privacy and reliability issues associated with Flock’s services.
Reasons for the Change
Grand Chute Police Chief David Maas highlighted several factors that influenced the town’s decision. Among these were difficulties in auditing data usage due to recent programmatic changes by Flock, which made it challenging for the town to monitor how shared data was being utilized by external agencies. Maas emphasized the importance of having control over data, especially when shared with external partners.
Additionally, Maas pointed to a pattern of inaccuracies and poor service from Flock, including malfunctioning cameras and inadequate security protocols in agencies with which data was shared. These issues prompted the town to seek a more reliable partner.
Axon’s Offerings
Axon, the new provider, has been chosen for its solid product offerings that promise to benefit the community while respecting resident privacy. The transition to Axon’s cameras is expected to be completed by September 1, with the town maintaining its current number of 23 cameras.
Despite the change, Flock Safety maintains that its services are trustworthy and continues to emphasize its commitment to resolving issues swiftly and investing in reliability and customer communication.
Community Response
Interestingly, no residents voiced opinions for or against the Flock cameras during the town meeting where the decision was made. The town board’s decision to switch providers was proactive, as Chief Maas had already planned to recommend not renewing the Flock contract when it was set to expire next summer. The recent issues with Flock merely expedited the process.
Importantly, this changeover to Axon will not result in any financial impact on the town, as confirmed by Chief Maas.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
