Fort Wayne votes Tuesday on Flock camera renewal

21 August 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Fort Wayne City Council will vote Tuesday, August 26, on whether to fund a one-year extension of the city's Flock automated license-plate reader program. The police department is requesting $120,250 to renew the contract for 24 months with 36 cameras, funded through the police general budget. One council member, Russ Jehl, told 21Alive News on August 21 that he does not expect the contract to pass, citing constituent concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Jehl indicated he remains undecided on his own vote while completing draft safeguard legislation with police and city attorneys.

Fort Wayne's relationship with Flock cameras dates to April 2024, when the city entered a 24-month contract for eight cameras at $25,200 annually. In June 2025, the city added 28 more cameras for an additional $92,995, funded through a grant. The council previously delayed the renewal vote to allow more public input and permit police to address civil liberty concerns. Advocacy group De-Flock Fort Wayne has organized opposition, while police point to major cases solved using the technology, including the 2023 Kroger stabbing and a 2025 homicide investigation. Police acknowledge access is monitored and note that AI alerts flag suspicious search patterns. However, concerns persist about potential misuse, as documented in cases from other jurisdictions.

The outcome will clarify what records the city maintains on camera use and access monitoring. Residents interested in tracking similar votes in their own communities can monitor city council agendas, check renewal schedules in existing contracts, or file records requests for ALPR access logs and incident reports.

Read the original reporting: 21alivenews.com.