CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE TO END FLOCK SAFETY CONTRACTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
September 16, 2026
Ashley Manthei, Communications Manager
amanthei@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 608-0322
 
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – The City of Sun Prairie and the Sun Prairie Police Department announced today that the City will not renew its existing contracts with Flock Safety. Six current Flock cameras are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026, with the remaining three cameras expiring on March 31, 2027.

The police department plans to present a contract to the Public Safety Committee on October 7, 2026 regarding the use of Axon Outpost cameras as the department’s future automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology.

This decision reflects the police department’s responsiveness to considering resident feedback, evaluating our practices, and ensuring that public safety technology is used in a manner that is consistent with the law, operational needs, and the expectations of the community we serve.

The police department recognizes residents have legitimate questions and concerns about ALPR technology, including how information is collected, retained, accessed, and shared. We have heard those concerns. Policing requires more than simply explaining what we do. It requires us to listen, consider different perspectives, and evaluate public safety needs.

“License plate reader technology can be a valuable tool for our officers and investigators,” said Chief Kevin Warych. “It can assist in locating stolen vehicles, identifying vehicles associated with serious crimes, and developing investigative leads that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. At the same time, we have a responsibility to the community to ensure this technology is used lawfully, that access and information sharing are appropriately controlled, and that data retention practices are clearly understood.”

The Sun Prairie Police Department is grateful for the City Council’s support of the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan approved September 15, 2026. Beginning in 2027, the city of Sun Prairie plans to partner with Axon to support a more integrated public safety technology platform that will include data management and storage, body-worn cameras, and TASER devices.

A primary consideration in moving toward the Axon platform is the opportunity to consolidate multiple public safety technology systems and vendors. A more integrated platform is expected to improve operational efficiency, simplify data management, reduce administrative demands, and provide long-term value to the city while maintaining modern technology for our officers.

The platform also provides important safeguards for public safety data:

• Purpose-Built Security: Axon has nearly two decades of experience securely managing sensitive public safety data, including body-worn camera footage and public safety records.
• Agency Ownership and Control: The city retains ownership and control of its data, including how it is accessed, managed, and exported. Data remains under the city's control and is accessed only as authorized by the city.

“We appreciate the residents who continue to ask questions, challenge us, and engage with us on difficult issues,” says Chief Warych. “We may not always agree, but we have an obligation to listen and have the conversation. Those conversations make us better. Our goal is to provide effective public safety while earning and maintaining the trust of the people we are privileged to serve.”

Residents are welcome to attend the October Public Safety Committee on October 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM in council chambers to learn more about the Axon Outpost proposal. Can’t make it in person? The meeting will be streamed live to www.sunprairiemediacenter.com or on Spectrum channel 983, or TDS channels 983/1983. It will also be available for on-demand viewing at a later date.
 
About City of Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane County, just east of the City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less than 4,000 to an estimated 39,419 today.