The council’s vote removes funding for Flock from the 2027 county budget, but it does not immediately cancel the county’s contract or remove the cameras. During the discussion, officials indicated the commissioners would still have to decide whether to terminate the contract.
Councilwoman Nicole Cox made a motion to remove funding for Flock cameras and similar automated license plate reader devices through county funds.
The Motion reads:
Motion to move Professional Services in the Pre-Trial Diversion Fund from $20,000 to $0.
Removing funding for Flock cameras and any other similar ALPR device through any county fund, whether tax dollars, user fees, grants, donations, or any other public money.
Removing funding for other surveillance technologies like signal trace (Leonardo), mobile or stationary ALPRs (Flock & Axon), Gunshot detectors (Axon), Cell Site Simulators (Stingray) without specific council review and approval.
Cox said she had researched arguments both for and against the cameras and raised concerns about what she described as a lack of guardrails and transparency surrounding the county’s system.
“My biggest concern right now is we have zero guardrails put in place for our county… Our individual county has access, but that is open to all of the cameras across the United States because we have zero guardrails. Everyone has access to our cameras,” Cox said.
She also referenced difficulties obtaining records and questions about whether audits of the system had been conducted.
Cox said she did not believe the county had conducted audits and said concerns over transparency left her “more comfortable right now to defund it at this point.”
Cox said Flock funding could later return before county officials through an additional appropriation if officials decided to continue using the technology.
Chipman Points To Flock’s Use In Kidnapping Investigation
Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman argued that Flock has provided value to law enforcement.
Chipman described Flock as one piece of a larger investigation rather than something driving an investigation by itself.
Chipman then pointed to a recent kidnapping investigation in which a 3-month-old infant was safely recovered in Merrillville on July 7, 2026, after investigators say Bobbie Jo Novak took the child from a home near Plymouth.
In that case, Flock license plate reader technology was used to help track Novak and safely recover the infant.
The broader council discussion included arguments over privacy, potential misuse, law enforcement benefits, data access and whether additional safeguards could address concerns without eliminating the cameras.
What’s Next For Flock?
During the debate, officials said the Flock contract could be terminated with 30 days’ notice, but the council’s vote did not establish a date for the cameras to be physically removed.
The discussion indicated the commissioners would still have to decide whether to cancel the contract.
Michiana Scanner Chatter will continue to follow this story as it develops.