Waukee PD ends Flock contract
Media Release - August 14, 2026
The Waukee Police Department has elected not to renew our relationship with automated license plate reader (ALPR) vendor Flock Safety. This decision pauses our ALPR program pending the outcome of the 2027 Iowa legislative session, where lawmakers are expected to consider legislation related to ALPR technology.
We made this decision after listening closely to concerns raised by ongoing national discussions — primarily concerns centered on privacy and data retention issues. We believe the right path forward is to let the legislative process set clear, statewide standards before we continue our program.
This technology has produced real results for our community. License plate readers helped locate an elderly man with dementia who had gone missing and reunite him with his family in less than two hours, helped locate the suspect in a Waukee sex trafficking investigation, helped solve a multi-state fraud case involving significant financial loss, and helped identify suspects in a multi-state ATM theft ring. They have also helped recover stolen vehicles and license plates, solve thefts affecting our local business community, and locate individuals with active warrants. We do not take the value of these tools lightly, and we want our community to understand the impact of this decision.
But effectiveness alone isn't the only measure of a good decision. Our mission is service through integrity, respect, and trust — and our vision is to be a collaborative partner in building a safer community. Pausing this program while our community and state stakeholders work through these questions together is what that mission looks like in practice.
In the meantime, our officers remain committed to the investigative work, community partnerships, and proactive policing that make Waukee a safe place to live, work and play. We will continue to evaluate this technology, monitor the 2027 legislative session closely, and revisit this decision once Iowa's legal framework is clear.
We are grateful for our community support, and we remain committed to earning your trust every day.