· National · Transparency
NBC News review: Flock cameras often spread through deals that skipped bidding or came in just under approval limits
An NBC News review of local government contracts and public records found that police departments and other officials regularly bought Flock Safety surveillance technology through deals that avoided competitive bidding or fell just below spending thresholds that require approval by elected officials, NBC News reported on Oct. 19, 2026. NBC said it found contracts priced just below approval thresholds and dozens of deals awarded without competitive bids, and that in dozens of communities residents and their elected representatives never voted on whether to install the cameras. The full NBC report is for subscribers; this summary uses only its public summary. Earlier local reporting has described similar cases: Sahan Journal reported that the Anoka County, Minnesota, sheriff signed a Flock contract for $174,500, just under the $175,000 level that requires a county board vote, after an earlier $245,000 proposal never went to the board.
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