Madison, Indiana board adopts ALPR usage policy requiring case numbers and supervisor approval

First reported: October 19, 2026 · 1 source

Madison's Board of Public Works and Safety approved standard operating procedures governing Madison Police Department use of Flock automated license plate reader cameras at its Monday meeting. Action had been tabled from the Oct. 5 meeting to allow community input. Under the policy described by Assistant Chief Ricky Harris, searches must be tied to a call for service or criminal investigation with an actual case or service number, must state a reason, and require shift leader approval, with violations reportable to the chief, mayor, board and police merit board. The board also approved a separate records policy, which Mayor Bob Courtney said was prompted by an increase from 15 public records requests last year to 110 so far this year.

Why this matters

Madison's rules — case-number requirements, supervisor sign-off, repeat-search alerts and a defined violation reporting chain — offer one model other small cities may consider as they weigh ALPR adoption against privacy concerns.

Key facts

The SOP was approved Monday after being tabled from the Oct. 5 BPWS meeting for community input.
Searches must be linked to a call for service or criminal case with a case or service number, include a stated reason, and be approved by a shift leader.
Harris said he receives an automatic alert when a plate is searched more than once, which he then reviews.
Madison currently operates two Flock cameras: one at the Milton-Madison Bridge and one that moves with a speed limit indicator; Harris said he would like coverage at all major entry points.
A separate records SOP was approved; new fees still require a City Council ordinance, per County Attorney Joe Jenner.

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

BPWS adopts SOP to prevent flock camera abuse (Madison Courier, October 19, 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 21, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.