Documented Incident
Inkster, Michigan signs 10-year Flock Safety deal to expand cameras, gunshot sensors and a drone
First reported: October 13, 2026 · 3 sources
Inkster has committed to a 10-year contract with Flock Safety that will grow its license plate reader network from six to 20 units and add five security cameras, 48 gunshot detection devices, and a drone for emergency response. Mayor Byron Nolen and Police Chief Tamika Jenkins framed the "Safe City Inkster" expansion as a way to deter crime and speed response times. The move comes as other Metro Detroit communities have paused or canceled Flock contracts amid questions about data access and sharing. Jenkins said the expansion was finalized before Oakland County announced an investigation into a former deputy accused of accessing data after leaving the job.
A 10-year commitment is unusually long for surveillance technology contracts and limits a city's ability to revisit the decision as oversight questions surface elsewhere in the region.
Key facts
- License plate readers will increase from 6 to 20, alongside 5 security cameras, 48 gunshot detection devices, and one drone.
- The contract term is 10 years; the drone is expected to be operational before the end of the year.
- Oakland County has announced an investigation into a former deputy accused of accessing data after leaving the position; no findings have been reported.
- Chief Tamika Jenkins said an audit tool will flag potential misuse for administrative review and that violators would be terminated.
- Inkster said it planned to launch a transparency portal in November with statistics, policies, and data-handling information.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Inkster plans to expand Flock Safety surveillance system, other cities are pausing or canceling contracts (ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4, October 13, 2026)
- Inkster plans to expand Flock Safety surveillance system, other cities are pausing or canceling contracts (Clickondetroit, October 13, 2026)
- Inkster plans to expand Flock Safety surveillance system, other cities are pausing or canceling contracts (News Pub, October 13, 2026)
More from Michigan
Everything we have documented in Michigan, or search every Michigan article in the archive.
About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated October 14, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.