Demand Accountability, Transparency & a Public Review of Flock Safety

To the Muncie City Council, Mayor of Muncie, and Chief of the Muncie Police Department:

We, the undersigned residents and members of the Muncie, Indiana and Delaware County community, are calling for immediate transparency and accountability regarding the City of Muncie’s use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader technology.

We recognize the serious challenges facing our community and support legitimate efforts to investigate and prevent violent crime.

However, public safety cannot come at the expense of transparency, accountability, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, or reasonable expectations of privacy.

Flock technology allows law enforcement to collect, store, and search information about vehicles traveling throughout our community. Because this technology can affect the privacy and movements of ordinary residents, the public deserves meaningful oversight and clear answers about how the system is being used.

WE DEMAND ANSWERS

The citizens of Muncie deserve to know:

How many Flock cameras does Muncie currently operate?
Where are the cameras located?
How much has Muncie spent on Flock?
Where did the funding come from?
Were ARPA funds used? If so, how much?
How long is Flock data retained?
Who has access to the information?
Who audits searches and access?
How frequently are audits conducted?
How many officers have been investigated for suspected misuse?
How many officers have been disciplined or found to have improperly used Flock?
How many investigations, arrests, stolen-vehicle recoveries, shootings, homicides, or other cases has Flock materially assisted?
What safeguards prevent officers from using Flock to improperly monitor spouses, partners, family members, friends, victims, political opponents, or other individuals for personal reasons?
WE ASK THE MUNCIE CITY COUNCIL TO:

1. Conduct a complete public review of the current Flock contract.

2. Hold a public hearing regarding Flock’s cost, funding, effectiveness, privacy protections, and oversight.

3. Release all legally disclosable records regarding Flock use, audits, investigations, officer misuse, funding, and expenditures.

4. Establish meaningful independent auditing and oversight of Flock searches and access to Flock information.

5. Require the City to publicly report measurable results demonstrating whether Flock is actually improving public safety.

6. Review whether the benefits of Flock justify its financial cost and privacy implications.

7. Reject any future expansion or renewal unless the City can demonstrate that the system is effective, necessary, responsibly funded, and subject to adequate safeguards and oversight.

DEFLOCK MUNCIE

Fort Wayne recently chose not to renew its Flock program, giving its community an opportunity to reconsider the costs, benefits, and implications of this technology.

We believe Muncie deserves the same opportunity.

This petition is not about being against law enforcement.

It is about ensuring that powerful surveillance technology is never allowed to operate without meaningful public accountability.

If Flock is working, show us the results.

If officers are being properly monitored, show us the audits.

If taxpayer money is paying for it, show us where the money is going.

And if safeguards are in place to prevent abuse, show the public how those safeguards are working.

The people of Muncie should not have to rely on assurances alone. We deserve documented results, transparent records, meaningful oversight, and a public discussion about whether this technology is truly necessary and effective.

We respectfully request that the Muncie City Council review the Flock program, address these unanswered questions publicly, and take action toward DeFlocking Muncie if the system cannot demonstrate that it is necessary, effective, financially responsible, and adequately protected against abuse.

OUR DEMAND

Transparency.
Accountability.
Oversight.
Public Review.
And, if necessary — DEFLOCK MUNCIE.