Flock Safety Ignores Cancellation Requests, Leaves Cameras Running in Minnesota Cities
Plymouth’s police chief physically disconnected Flock cameras after the company ignored a September 2026 cancellation for over a month. In Dayton, Flock reconnected two cameras despite the city’s explicit order not to complete the work order.
Flock Safety, a license plate reader company, has failed to honor contract cancellations from multiple cities, leaving cameras operational and, in at least one case, reconnecting equipment without authorization.
Plymouth, Minnesota’s city council voted to terminate its contract with Flock in September 2026, but the company did not respond to the city’s cancellation request. For more than a month, the cameras remained active and the city received no acknowledgment from Flock. Police Chief Eric Fadden ultimately resolved the standoff by physically disconnecting the cameras himself.
“After hearing nothing for more than a week, I directed our staff to disconnect the power cords from the cameras in order to be sure that they are not functioning or recording plates,” Fadden told The Drive.
Roughly 20 miles away, Dayton, Minnesota, encountered a different but equally troubling situation. Flock acknowledged Dayton’s cancellation request and indicated equipment removal could take up to 60 days. However, the company then reconnected two cameras within city limits without authorization, doing so after the local police had specifically instructed Flock not to proceed with the work order.
Dayton’s local government posted on Facebook that the Police Department was made aware of a Flock maintenance work order on September 17, 2026. The city notified Flock the following day that the program was on hold and no work orders were to be completed. According to the post, “the City’s direction was not followed, and the camera was placed back into service without authorization.”
The pattern extends beyond Minnesota. In Illinois, Flock refused to remove cameras and uncovered equipment at Elgin Community College after the administration sought to cancel its contract.
The incidents suggest cities attempting to exit Flock contracts may face significant resistance, raising questions about municipal control over surveillance infrastructure on public and institutional property. Flock did not immediately respond to a request for comment.