Documented Incident
Jackson, Mississippi police chief says department will not renew Flock Safety contract
Event: October 14, 2026 · First reported: October 16, 2026 · 7 sources
At an Oct. 14 city council committee meeting, Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said the department will let its contract with Flock Safety expire rather than renew it, citing concerns about what data automated license plate readers collect and how police use it. The Jackson City Council approved the agreement for 16 license-plate readers in September 2024 under a contract reported to run at least two years, and Flock is expected to remove the cameras when it ends. Brackney said license plate readers have helped solve homicides in Jackson and that the department will examine alternative systems paired with what she described as stringent policies to avoid over-surveillance.
Jackson's decision shows a department choosing to end an ALPR contract on privacy and data-governance grounds while still saying it wants the underlying capability, a distinction other cities weighing renewals may face.
Key facts
- Brackney announced the non-renewal on Oct. 14 at a city council committee meeting; the council approved the 16-camera Flock agreement in September 2024.
- Council President Vernon Hartley said he raised the issue after residents emailed him with privacy complaints, and asked the city's legal team to review questions.
- Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell said the problem lies with officers abusing access rather than the vendor, and urged safeguards instead of ending use; it was not immediately clear whether any JPD officers had been accused of misuse.
- Brackney told the council that more than 50 officers nationwide have been charged over policy violations involving Flock readers; USA TODAY reporting has linked more than 20 agencies to investigations, discipline or charges.
- DeFlock, a volunteer mapping project using OpenStreetMap data, lists more than 250 ALPR cameras of various brands in the Jackson area; a separate database estimates roughly 957 ALPR cameras statewide.
Timeline
- October 16, 2026Jackson police chief to end Flock cameras contract over privacy concerns
- October 16, 2026Jackson police chief to end Flock cameras contract over privacy concerns
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Jackson police chief to end Flock cameras contract over privacy concerns (The Clarion-Ledger, October 16, 2026)
- Jackson police chief plans to end contract with Flock Safety (WAPT, October 15, 2026)
- Privacy concerns drive Jackson away from Flock cameras (thebeatofthecapital.com, October 15, 2026)
- Privacy concerns drive Jackson away from Flock cameras (WJTV, October 15, 2026)
- Privacy concerns drive Jackson away from Flock cameras (WJTV, October 15, 2026)
- Jackson police chief to end Flock cameras contract over privacy concerns (The Clarion-ledger, October 16, 2026)
- Jackson police chief to end Flock cameras contract over privacy concerns (Sun Herald, October 16, 2026)
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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 17, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.