In May, the council unanimously voted against a contract to extend the camera system over concerns that the technology is creating a surveillance network ripe for abuse. But Johnston’s office opted not to take the cameras down, then extended the contract through October without council approval.
Now, another contract extension with added requirements intended to reduce the risk of data misuse will run through at least March, which is when Johnston’s team will present a new contract to the City Council, according to an announcement Wednesday by the mayor’s office.
“In Denver, we believe you can be a city that is just as tough on fighting crime as it is protecting someone’s civil liberties,” Johnston said in the news release. “I’ve made clear to Flock’s leadership that I expect total transparency and that anything less will result in an end to our relationship.”
Some councilmembers reacted to the extension with exasperation Wednesday.
“I’m tired of seeing major public safety decisions made behind council’s back,” said Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez. “Extending Flock again without a vote undermines democratic oversight and public trust.”
Johnston’s office says Flock’s technology has been a “game changer” for combating crime. Information gathered by Flock cameras across Denver has led to 352 arrests and 250 recovered stolen vehicles, according to the city.
The company agreed to add new protections to its services to ensure Denver’s data isn’t shared with the federal government, according to a news release. One of the biggest concerns that opponents of the system have is that the data could be used by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation efforts.
It’s illegal for local law enforcement agencies in Colorado to cooperate with ICE.
Denver’s new contract will include a requirement that Flock must pay $100,000 for any instance that data collected in the city is shared with federal agencies, according to the news release.
Flock will also only allow law enforcement users to look up vehicles with certain search terms for a “select number of crimes,” which excludes anything related to immigration or reproductive health care, like abortions.
Any law enforcement agencies that want access to Denver’s Flock data will also have to agree, under the new deal, not to share any information with the federal government regarding immigration enforcement or face possible prosecution from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
A spokesman for Flock said the company plans to continue working with Denver to prevent and solve crimes while protecting residents’ privacy.
“We fully support Mayor Johnston’s commitment to transparency and accountability and will continue partnering with the city to ensure that Denver’s program reflects its values and priorities,” Paris Lewbel said in a statement.
The 111 Flock cameras operating in Denver were installed at 70 intersections in 2024 as part of an eight-month pilot program.
Johnston’s office proposed a two-year extension to that program earlier this year, but ultimately asked the council to vote it down after intense backlash from residents and concerns from council members.
After the council rejected the proposal, Johnston’s office approved a new contract with Flock over the summer for just under $500,000, which is the threshold required for council approval. That extension ends this month. The new extension will have no cost.
Councilwoman Sarah Parady, one of the council’s most vocal opponents of Flock, said Wednesday she was “stunned” to learn of the latest contract extension.
“This company is dishonest, motivated primarily by the profit potential that comes with aggregation of data and has no place in our city,” she said. “Flock’s mass surveillance system remains incredibly dangerous for Denver regardless of this belated step.”
Alvidrez and Councilwoman Jamie Torres said the new requirements don’t assuage their concerns about the company. Torres said she finds the move to avoid a council vote “pretty reprehensible” and that the decision will further erode Johnston’s tense relationship with the council.
“I don’t think it bodes well for when we actually have to consider voting on it again in the new year,” she said.
But not everyone on the council disagreed with the decision. Councilman Kevin Flynn was quoted in the mayor’s announcement, saying he was satisfied with the guardrails added.
“The system has already proved its worth in solving crimes around the city. We can boost safety while ensuring the data is restricted,” he said, according to the news release.
The news outlet 404 Media earlier this year reported that ICE has used Flock data for its deportation efforts. The mayor’s office said there have been no examples of that happening with information captured by Denver cameras.
This summer, law enforcement records released in Illinois revealed that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents had used their access to the Loveland Police Department’s Flock data for an immigration investigation. Following that revelation, Johnston’s office told 9News that the Denver Police Department had revoked Loveland police’s access to tracking data from Denver’s Flock cameras.
The cameras operate by snapping photos of every car that passes through the intersections where they are based. The system then cross-references the license plate with national and local law enforcement databases.
If a plate matches one listed in the system as stolen or involved with a crime, the Denver Police Department is notified — with a pinpoint of where the photo was taken — within about 15 seconds. The photos are stored for 30 days unless they are flagged as part of an investigation.
© 2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
