Get the Flock out of Blaine County
The Issue
In our community of Blaine County, the installation of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and the ongoing contracts with Flock Safety have raised significant concerns regarding our privacy and civil liberties. These cameras, often installed without widespread knowledge or consent from residents, pose a direct threat to our 4th Amendment rights, which protect us against unreasonable searches and seizures.
There is a distinct lack of evidence to show that the presence of Flock cameras has a meaningful impact on enhancing public safety or reducing crime rates. Rather than providing security, they collect sensitive data about our daily movements and routines, often without our informed consent. This data can be, and often is, shared with other law enforcement agencies, including those beyond our immediate community. A separate issue is not knowing who owns the data obtained by Flock.
Especially concerning is that our Sheriff's Department has signed mutual aid agreements with counties that have 287 (g) agreements with ICE. This poses an additional risk by potentially linking our local surveillance data with broader immigration enforcement actions. This link further erodes the trust between our community and local law enforcement, making some residents feel unsafe and targeted.
The presence of these surveillance tools in our community needs to be critically evaluated for their true effectiveness and impact. Our city leaders and the Sheriff's Department must take action to remove all ALPRs and terminate all current contracts with Flock Safety, and promise not to renew them in the future. Doing so will reinforce our commitment to respecting the privacy and rights of all community members, ensuring that surveillance does not outweigh our fundamental freedoms.
We urge our leaders to consider the voices of the community in these decisions and to prioritize transparency, accountability, and trust.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, a community member asked Sheriff Ballis whether he would consider removing the cameras if we created a petition and obtained enough signatures from residents. He responded that he would consider removing the cameras if the petition received sufficient community support.
The Flock contract was signed by former Sheriff Harkins on September 30, 2024, and has a 24-month term. We urge the community to come together to ask Sheriff Ballis not to renew the contract when it expires.
Our right to privacy is a non- partisan issue that has, for once, united us despite our political differences. Please support this cause to ensure our rights remain protected by signing this petition today.
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The Issue
In our community of Blaine County, the installation of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and the ongoing contracts with Flock Safety have raised significant concerns regarding our privacy and civil liberties. These cameras, often installed without widespread knowledge or consent from residents, pose a direct threat to our 4th Amendment rights, which protect us against unreasonable searches and seizures.
There is a distinct lack of evidence to show that the presence of Flock cameras has a meaningful impact on enhancing public safety or reducing crime rates. Rather than providing security, they collect sensitive data about our daily movements and routines, often without our informed consent. This data can be, and often is, shared with other law enforcement agencies, including those beyond our immediate community. A separate issue is not knowing who owns the data obtained by Flock.
Especially concerning is that our Sheriff's Department has signed mutual aid agreements with counties that have 287 (g) agreements with ICE. This poses an additional risk by potentially linking our local surveillance data with broader immigration enforcement actions. This link further erodes the trust between our community and local law enforcement, making some residents feel unsafe and targeted.
The presence of these surveillance tools in our community needs to be critically evaluated for their true effectiveness and impact. Our city leaders and the Sheriff's Department must take action to remove all ALPRs and terminate all current contracts with Flock Safety, and promise not to renew them in the future. Doing so will reinforce our commitment to respecting the privacy and rights of all community members, ensuring that surveillance does not outweigh our fundamental freedoms.
We urge our leaders to consider the voices of the community in these decisions and to prioritize transparency, accountability, and trust.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, a community member asked Sheriff Ballis whether he would consider removing the cameras if we created a petition and obtained enough signatures from residents. He responded that he would consider removing the cameras if the petition received sufficient community support.
The Flock contract was signed by former Sheriff Harkins on September 30, 2024, and has a 24-month term. We urge the community to come together to ask Sheriff Ballis not to renew the contract when it expires.
Our right to privacy is a non- partisan issue that has, for once, united us despite our political differences. Please support this cause to ensure our rights remain protected by signing this petition today.
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Petition created on July 20, 2026