ADRIAN — Lenawee County commissioners have delayed action on the Flock Safety license plate reader proposal. During their June 10 Ways and Means Committee meeting, the board referred the item back to the Criminal Justice Committee for further policy development.
The Flock Safety proposal has been under consideration for several months. The system would deploy automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in rural townships to aid in law enforcement investigations. While initially brought forward by the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, concerns have persisted over privacy, data access, and oversight protocols.
During Tuesday’s meeting, members of the Ways and Means Committee emphasized the need for a formal policy governing data storage, usage, and access rights before any contract is executed.
No vote was taken on the funding or installation at this session. Instead, commissioners instructed staff to work with the Criminal Justice Committee to draft clear procedures for how footage will be handled and who will have access to the data. The proposal is expected to return to the board following that review.
The Flock Safety system in question would be funded under the Criminal Justice Allocation Fund, which still has eligible dollars set aside for approved technology projects.
No official timeline was set for the revised policy. The topic may reappear at a future Criminal Justice Committee meeting in July or August.
The board’s decision to delay reflects ongoing scrutiny of surveillance technologies in public safety. Any final vote will depend on the completeness of the revised data policy and public transparency standards.