Richmond council to weigh replacing Flock license plate readers with Axon

Richmond police want to replace the city's Flock Safety license plate readers with a new system from Axon, citing problems with Flock's equipment, repairs, and data-sharing practices.

The Richmond City Council will consider the change Tuesday, along with a $3.5 million increase to Richmond's existing Axon contract. That would bring the contract to $12 million and add license plate readers, security cameras, and drones to the body cameras, Tasers, and evidence storage Axon already provides to the department.

The council would also consider a separate $500,000 contract with Assure MSP to install Verkada security cameras at city facilities, including Shields-Reid Park, the corporation yard, and the Port of Richmond.

The proposed change comes after a series of problems with Flock, including an incident last fall that led police to shut down the entire system.

Richmond police halt license plate readers

The Richmond Police Department has shut down its automated license plate reader system after discovering that a configuration error allowed some outside law enforcement agencies to run limited searches of Richmond’s data, the department said in a social media post. Police said Flock Safety had notified the department that

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Police discovered that a "national lookup" feature had been running in the background, allowing law enforcement agencies around the country to access Richmond's license plate data. Police said that violated city policy and state law.

The council voted 4-3 in March to keep Flock under contract through the end of 2026.

Richmond council votes to reinstate Flock Safety license plate readers

The Richmond City Council voted Tuesday night to extend the city’s contract with Flock Safety through December 31, 2026, reinstating the company’s automated license plate reader system that had been disabled since November amid a data sharing scandal, while directing the city attorney to negotiate stronger data protections

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

A committee reviewing the companies that bid on the camera system found problems with the current system, including unreliable cameras, long repair delays, and equipment that was never fixed after being installed in the wrong position.

According to the report, one camera at the city's corporation yard had been broken for about eight months. There were also disputes over bills for equipment that was not yet installed.

Richmond first signed a contract with Flock in February 2023 for 30 license plate readers. The city later added security cameras, Port of Richmond coverage, and drones.

Richmond police reporting success with license plate readers

The Richmond Police Department is celebrating success in locating stolen vehicles and vehicles associated with other crimes thanks to the city’s recently installed license plate readers. The city council approved a contract with Flock Safety in February to install license plate cameras in various locations throughout the city. Since

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Six companies bid on the new work in February: Assure MSP, Axon, Flock, IREX, Motorola Solutions and Net Electric. A 10-person committee narrowed the list to Axon, Flock and Assure MSP before recommending that the city split the work between Axon and Assure MSP.

Axon would provide the equipment for police. Assure MSP would install Verkada cameras at city facilities that aren't part of police operations.

Data from the license plate readers and cameras would also be stored in Axon's existing system alongside RPD's body camera and Taser footage.

The license plate readers would connect with Axon's Fusis software, which brings feeds from license plate readers, security cameras, drones, and other sources into one dashboard.

The plan also includes equipment that can detect other drones and access to the Auror Retail Crime Hub, where retailers and police share information about theft.

Axon's system, like Flock's, has the ability to share information with other agencies. The report says Richmond's system would not be open to outside agencies.

State law prohibits sharing California license plate data with agencies outside California. RPD policy also prohibits open sharing, regardless of which system the department uses.

Richmond police arrest suspect in fatal hit-and-run that killed 81-year-old man

Richmond police have announced an arrest in the hit-and-run that killed an 81-year-old Richmond man earlier this month. Don Mack, a 66-year-old Richmond resident, has been booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, vehicular manslaughter, and driving with a suspended license after investigators

Grandview IndependentLinda Hemmila

Police have credited the technology with helping crack other cases, too. In the August 23 hit-and-run that killed 81-year-old Rafael Delgado as he crossed 23rd Street at Hellings Avenue, Richmond police used automated license plate reader data along with video surveillance to identify the vehicle involved.

If the council approves the contracts, Richmond would begin installing the new cameras and drones and replacing the existing equipment.