A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road in Houston on Oct. 16. (AP Photo/David Goldman, file)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County officials will take a closer look at law enforcement cameras installed on local roadways after pushback from the public.

Dickinson County Sheriff Aaron Rochon said the leaders of a local drug enforcement agency that paid for the system will soon review policies and safeguards and “discuss everything that’s being talked about.”

Rochon’s comments came after several citizens addressed the county board Monday to protest automated license plate readers — or Flock surveillance cameras. The technology has been a subject of controversy in many communities.

Pam Trask of Breitung Township described the cameras as “a slippery slope to a police state” and asked that they be banned. “We did not consent to being surveilled,” she said.

An online petition at change.org launched by Joshua Arnold of Iron Mountain proposes to ban Flock cameras and all other ALPRs in Dickinson County.

The petition says such cameras “create opportunities for misuse and overreach by authorities, infringe on personal privacy, and can lead to unwarranted surveillance of innocent citizens going about their daily lives.”

According to a fact sheet posted online by the sheriff’s office, ALPR cameras are used to support criminal investigations and enhance community safety.

“The use of these cameras is designed to recognize and respect established public privacy rights while assisting officers in responding to and preventing crime,” the statement reads.

The ALPR system uses cameras and software to capture images of license plates and convert the plate characters into searchable data, typically along with the date, time, location, and sometimes general vehicle descriptions visible in the image, the fact sheet states.

The executive board of the KIND drug enforcement team authorized the ALPR purchase, using KIND forfeiture monies, Rochon said. The sheriff serves on the board along with Prosecuting Attorney Abbey Anderson and police chiefs in Kingsford, Iron Mountain and Norway.

To date, the cameras have helped remove $50,000 worth of illegal drugs from the streets of the community, Rochon said.

During citizens’ time, Kirk Chartier of Breitung Township said the cameras are “all over,” which he termed “an abuse of power.”

Eric Wysocki of Kingsford said the ALPR system is susceptible to abuses, making it the equivalent of electronic stalking.

County board members said they’ll continue to look into the issues raised. Commissioner Victoria Jakel said that — despite the law enforcement value — she’s “leaning toward not being in favor” of continuing an ALPR system.

Chairman Dan Harrington acknowledged the positives as well, but asked “What is the tradeoff?” The board must determine if it has “any authority to do anything,” he added.

In Wisconsin, the Oshkosh Police Department was continuing a search in June for new license plate-reading cameras after canceling a contract with Flock Safety due to security concerns, FOX 11 News reported.

In Menominee, after hours of comment and discussion during a meeting in May, city council members voted not to move forward with a Flock contract.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, about 80,000 to 100,000 Flock cameras are currently installed across the U.S. The ACLU, which describes the technology as “creepy,” says it’s been working for more than a decade to increase transparency and accountability for how ALPR cameras are being used.

Flock Safety’s 2025 impact census covering 700 law enforcement agencies showed that the technology assisted in solving 20% of cleared cases, helped locate more than 10,000 missing persons, and contributed significantly to stolen vehicle recoveries across the country.

The ACLU reports that Flock provides one of the most widely used ALPR systems, while others include Axon, Vigilant Solutions (a subsidiary of Motorola Solutions), Genetec, PlateSmart, Innova Systems, Rekor, ELSAG, Perceptics, and Jenoptik.

In other action, the county board:

— Reappointed Merlin Calkins of Kingsford, Dennis Shinn of Iron Mountain and Sandra Adams of Quinnesec to three-year terms on the Fumee Lake Commission.

— Approved a $1,500 appropriation to the Lake Antoine Association for Eurasian milfoil treatment at Lake Antoine. Last year, LAA used a combination of chemical and hand-pulling methods to combat milfoil and a fall survey showed successful remediation, according to Steve Rigoni, LAA treasurer.

— Approved hiring Alexandria Brozek at a one-year corrections officer rate, rather than the starting rate, due to previous experience.

— Authorized Run Iron Mountain to use a 3.6-mile stretch of the Fumee Lake Natural Area during the Saturday, Sept. 26, Run Iron Mountain Half Marathon.

— Authorized Dickinson-Iron Special Olympics to use the Fumee Lake Natural Area and a pavilion at Lake Antoine Park for the Lake Antoine Classic walk/run on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.