College Station renews Flock Safety contract 4-2

25 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

On September 25, 2026, the College Station City Council voted 4-2 to renew its contract with Flock Safety for one year. The vote took place with six council members present, as Mayor John Nichols was absent due to injury. Councilmembers Bob Yancy and Mark Smith voted against renewal. The council did not specify contract costs or other financial terms in the vote.

Police Chief Billy Couch and Detective Stephen Schoellman presented data on camera performance, citing an internal audit system Flock launched in April 2026 to track misuse. Yancy objected to the company itself, citing concerns about its open architecture, initial privacy design, reported financial instability including layoffs, pending litigation, and client losses nationwide. Smith acknowledged the technology's value to law enforcement but expressed concern that public trust had eroded and said guardrails must be established before continuing. Councilmembers McIlhaney and Wright supported renewal, arguing the technology's crime-solving benefits outweigh privacy risks and suggesting alternative tools they use may be more invasive. Councilman Shafer expressed support for stricter guardrails. Councilman White noted that Axon, another vendor, was not currently an option.

This renewal decision becomes part of the public record of College Station's ongoing reliance on automated license plate reading technology. The council voted for a one-year term, which means residents can expect a similar decision point in 2027. The city maintains a transparency portal at flocksafety.com where camera usage data may be reviewed. Residents interested in similar decisions can check their own city council agendas and voting records to learn when contract renewal votes are scheduled and how their representatives voted.

Read the original reporting: WTAW | 1620AM & 94.5FM.