KIND decision to end Flock cameras driven by cost, community concerns
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- The executive board of a local drug enforcement team is unwilling to assume an ongoing cost for Flock cameras that were installed about six months ago in Dickinson County and have since been disconnected and covered.
While recognizing the value of Flock technology, the KIND drug team has determined the forfeiture funds used for the initial installation won't be committed for a long-term program. Terms of the KIND agreement haven't been discussed, though Flock Safety systems typically cost $2,500 to $3,000 per camera per year to lease, plus a one-time installation fee of $250 to $350 per camera.
The issue of Flock's automated license plate readers came to the attention of the Dickinson County Board at a July 13 meeting when several citizens protested the surveillance. At the board's Aug. 10 meeting, Sheriff Aaron Rochon discussed the KIND drug team's subsequent decision to end its contract with Flock.
Rochon, who chairs KIND's executive board, said that a date for removal of the cameras was uncertain, but noted his department had "wrapped the cameras."
Flock cameras have faced backlash in a number of communities across the U.S. as critics cite insufficient data-sharing regulations and misuse. Flock last week announced changes to its platform, but the American Civil Liberties Union among others say the remedies fall short.
A petition at change.org to ban Flock cameras and all other ALPRs in Dickinson County showed 587 signatures as of Friday.
Meanwhile, a Flock census of 700 law enforcement agencies in 2025 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.
Rochon, in revealing KIND's decision to end its Flock contract, referenced a letter of explanation that was sent to the county board. The text of the KIND letter, which was not available to The Daily News at the time of the Aug. 10 county board meeting, follows:
"This letter is to advise you that the KIND Drug Team Executive Board recently met and discussed the current contract with Flock Safety for (4) Falcon ALPR cameras, as well as the trial cameras that were installed.
"After careful consideration, the Executive Board decided to end the contract immediately and to discontinue the program under the current agreement.
"The Executive Board recognizes both the value of technology in law enforcement investigations and the importance of listening to and addressing public concerns related to Automated License Plate Reader technology. During the approximately six months these ALPR cameras were in use, they contributed to investigations resulting in the seizure of approximately $50,000 worth of illegal drugs from the streets of Dickinson County. That figure does not include additional investigations and enforcement activity in which ALPR technology was not involved.
"The Executive Board also recognized from the beginning that this project was never intended to be a long-term funding option from the KIND Drug Team itself but it was certainly an appropriate project considering forfeiture funds must be used for drug enforcement purposes. Because the Team primarily operates using forfeiture funds, which can fluctuate significantly from year to year, the Executive Board did not believe it would be prudent to place the Team at financial risk by assuming an ongoing equipment cost of this nature.
"It was always understood that, before any request was made to local municipalities for additional funding support, the Executive Board would first evaluate the effectiveness of the product, its investigative value, and any other issues that may have come from the technology.
"The Executive Board remains committed to further evaluating the concerns that have been raised by members of the public and to working toward a better long-term resolution that more fully addresses those concerns while still recognizing the legitimate need for technology that can enhance criminal investigations, support public safety efforts, and assist law enforcement in disrupting drug trafficking and other criminal activity.
"This correspondence is being provided so that all participating local units and stakeholders are aware of the Executive Board's action and the current status of the Flock Safety arrangement."
The letter is signed by Rochon as chairman of the KIND Drug Team Executive Board. Other members of the KIND board are Prosecuting Attorney Abbey Anderson and police chiefs in Kingsford, Iron Mountain and Norway.
Operating as a cooperative task force, KIND receives funding of $1.25 per county resident based on census data. Breitung Township and the cities of Kingsford, Iron Mountain and Norway pay a per-resident rate, while Dickinson County pays a per-resident rate for the townships of Breen, Felch, Norway, Sagola, Waucedah and West Branch.
In addition to the base funding, KIND receives a share of forfeiture funds that can be used for operational costs, training and equipment.
The per-resident rate was last adjusted in 2023 and previously was 75 cents per resident. Using 2020 census data, payments to KIND from Dickinson County and local governments would total $32,433 annually, based on a population of 25,947 at $1.25 per person.
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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.