SPRINGVILLE, Ala. — Officials with the City of Springville are exploring routes to shorten or entirely end its contract with Flock Safety following an audit exposing an officer for misusing the camera system and the city concluding the service did not justify its cost.
Mayor Austin Phillips discussed the issue during a city council work session on Aug. 3, saying the review came after public concerns about the city’s use of Flock license plate reading cameras (LRPs).
“As many of you know, a month or so ago, we had an officer who misused the Flock camera system,” Phillips said. “I feel like Chief Mize acted quickly once he did the audit and found the discrepancy.”
Phillips mentioned that action was taken quickly according to department and city policy.
“Obviously, there’s been a lot of public outcry regarding those systems and what they do and what they’re used for,” Phillips said. “Anytime the public’s concerned about something, I think it’s important that we dive into it and look into it.”
Phillips noted that Springville has had an agreement with Flock since 2019. The city’s most recent agreement was a 60-month renewal, signed in October 2023 by former Police Chief Richard Walton. This leaves the city with around two years before the contract expires.
Springville currently has 13 Flock cameras. Phillips said city officials spent about a week and a half reviewing the contract and the value it provides to the city.
“I fully anticipated finding something that would help us to justify having the system,” Phillips said. “I thought it would be something that would be hugely beneficial to the way that our officers police.”
According to Phillips however, the review did not find enough evidence to justify the system’s cost.
“At least for Springville — I’m not saying it doesn’t work for other municipalities — but for Springville, I feel like the cost is not accurately representing what we’re getting,” Phillips said.
Phillips said the city is “exploring methods and ways” to detach itself from the Flock contract or shorten it.
Phillips said looking at the past year, Flock was shown to contribute to around eight felony arrests but noted that did not mean Flock was the sole factor leading to those arrests.
“The problem with that statement is it’s contributed in some way,” Phillips said. “It does not mean that it was the sole reason for the arrests.”
Phillips said five of those cases were related to retail theft.
During the Aug. 3 meeting, Springville Police Chief Jason Mize noted that Flock can be a valuable tool, but said the system has not provided enough value to Springville to keep it at its current cost.
“It’s a great resource. It’s a great tool,” Mize said. “My biggest concern is, of course, other law enforcement agencies can use our tool as well.”
Mize mentioned meeting with the entire police department about the issue and not receiving any pushback against stepping away from the system.
“Not a single person said, ‘No, don’t do that,’” Mize said. “Everybody was in agreement.”
Officials estimated the system costs between $27,000 and $28,000 annually. Phillips and Mize said that is money that could better be utilized training officers or buying equipment.
Phillips said the department’s training budget is around $10,000, meaning the money dedicated to Flock could nearly triple the amount available for training.
Mize said the money could also be used to help the department purchase equipment such as gear for school resource officers.
“This money would go a long way,” Mize said. “Again, I’m not an anti-Flock person here. I just looked at what we’re doing and what it’s helped us with.”
Mize mentioned that cameras from private businesses have helped with recent investigations, including a robbery, saying that keeping strong relationships with local businesses could support the city moving away from Flock.
“Flock will never solve or do an investigation for you, but it is a tool toward that investigation,” Mize said. “And eight in a year is not a big number.”
