By: Nicholas Fogleman | The Denver Gazette
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is abandoning the controversial Flock Safety camera system, joining a growing number of Colorado law enforcement agencies that have raised concerns about data privacy and ownership.
The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a nearly $22.8 million contract with public safety technology company Axon that will replace the county’s network of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras and add a countywide drone response system.
The package includes 100 Axon Outpost license plate reader cameras, replacing the county’s existing 50 Flock cameras, as well as a network of “first responder drones” stationed throughout the county. Officials said the technology will improve emergency response times and help conserve public safety resources.
The move follows similar decisions in other Colorado jurisdictions.
Earlier this year, Denver ended its contract with Flock amid controversy over the company’s data-sharing practices and reports of a secret agreement involving federal immigration enforcement. The city later signed a new agreement with Axon. Fort Collins also shut down its network of Flock cameras in June.
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