Asheville Mayor Calls for End to Flock Safety Contract

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer is calling for the city to terminate its contract with Flock Safety, citing residents' concerns about automated license plate readers and the handling of surveillance data.

Manheimer said Wednesday she will ask the Asheville City Council at its Aug. 25 meeting to authorize the city manager to terminate the contract and remove Flock cameras.

Manheimer said she considered calling for a moratorium but determined that would not remove the cameras under the terms of the city's contract.

"I have heard clearly from Asheville residents," Manheimer said in a statement. "I'm calling on Asheville to turn off the Flock cameras and remove them, which requires terminating the Flock contract."

The proposed termination follows the council's adoption in May of Resolution 26-97, which Manheimer said reaffirmed protections for civil liberties in the collection and use of data by public safety officers.

Manheimer said additional reporting about Flock's control and use of data prompted her to seek further action. She is also calling for a transparent city policy governing the handling and deletion of data collected by Flock cameras.

Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp has begun work on that policy, according to Manheimer.

The mayor cited investigations involving instances outside Asheville in which Flock shared data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without the express permission of the cities that contracted with the company.

Terminating the Flock contract would not resolve all privacy or surveillance concerns in Asheville, Manheimer acknowledged. The city is also moving forward with a broader surveillance and information-sharing system.

In May, the council approved a 7-year contract with Axon Enterprises for a Real-Time Intelligence Center. The system is intended to allow police to access and coordinate information from cameras, license plate readers, body-worn cameras, police vehicle cameras, drones and other technology during active calls and investigations.

The Axon project also drew criticism from some residents.

Councilwoman Kim Roney, who has raised concerns about Flock's privacy implications, was the lone dissenting vote on the Real-Time Intelligence Center. Roney is challenging Manheimer in the November mayoral election.

The Asheville City Council is scheduled to consider Manheimer's request Tuesday, Aug. 25. The vote will determine whether the city moves to end its Flock contract and remove the cameras.