Documented Incident
Skokie to conduct comprehensive review of ALPR cameras after residents pack Sept. 8 board meeting
Event: September 8, 2026 · First reported: September 25, 2026 · 2 sources
Residents filled Skokie's Sept. 8, 2026 Village Board meeting to object to the village's use of automated license plate reader cameras, citing privacy and data security concerns amid reports of officers elsewhere misusing ALPR systems. Deputy police Chief John Oakley told trustees the village operates 27 stationary cameras, 20 made by Flock Safety, with data retained 30 days and shared only with in-state law enforcement. Village Manager John Lockerby said Skokie will undertake a comprehensive review of the technology, expected to conclude in March before the budget process.
Skokie's review places a suburb with an active Flock contract running through December 2028 among the Illinois communities reassessing ALPR deployments, and its findings could shape how neighboring municipalities weigh claimed investigative benefits against data-sharing and oversight concerns.
Key facts
- Skokie operates 27 stationary ALPR cameras, 20 of them manufactured by Flock Safety, according to deputy police Chief John Oakley.
- Police said plate data is purged after 30 days, is not on a federal database, lacks facial recognition, and is accessible only for qualifying investigations.
- Police Chief Jesse Barnes said Flock cameras helped identify vehicles in both of Skokie's recorded homicides this year.
- Village Manager John Lockerby said Skokie is one of more than 350 Illinois municipalities using ALPR technology; Evanston is the only North Shore municipality to have banned it.
- Skokie's Flock contract expires in December 2028; officials said they will assess it after the study concludes in March.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Skokie calls for review of Flock cameras following national surge of misuse (Chicago Tribune, September 25, 2026)
- Skokie Orders Full Review of Flock Cameras as Misuse Cases Pile Up Statewide (Hoodline, September 26, 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 4, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.