Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration has asked City Council to approve a one-year contract with Axon Enterprises for license plate readers, a move that would replace the city’s current Flock Safety system. Axon, an Arizona company formerly called TASER International, already supplies body cameras to Cleveland police; the department also uses Fusus, software that combines surveillance data. The proposal includes renewal options, but the administration has not disclosed a cost.
A city spokesperson told Signal Cleveland that Axon’s system includes safeguards meant to protect civil liberties while aiding public safety in vulnerable neighborhoods. The spokesperson also said the city believes it can use the technology without sacrificing residents’ privacy or individual rights.
Flock No Cleveland, an opposition group, disputes that framing. Spokesperson Bryn Adams said changing vendors will not resolve public concerns about surveillance and characterized Axon as similar to Flock but with stronger public relations, closer federal ties and more advanced artificial intelligence.
Those are the group’s characterizations, not established findings.
The Cleveland Community Police Commission still intends to review the policy governing police use of license plate readers, Commissioner Shandra Moriera-Benito said. The commission is collecting comments from residents, experts and city officials and has an online survey scheduled to remain open through Nov. 16. Commissioners also approved a resolution calling for police to stop using the readers on Jan. 1 and not restart until the review ends; Moriera-Benito said completing the review before January is highly unlikely. Whether the city will follow the resolution is unclear.
Cleveland police currently have 100 Flock readers in high-traffic areas. The cameras record passing vehicles, and the images go into databases that agencies can share. In May, the administration sought permission from Safety Committee Chair Mike Polensek to renew Flock without seeking other bids; he refused.
Council later approved a six-month extension that required the city to solicit competing proposals. The administration is also proposing one-year contracts for Skydio’s drone-as-first-responder program and continued ShotSpotter gunshot detection. Polensek, who says the readers help solve violent crimes, expects the administration to discuss the legislation with him at a Tuesday meeting.