Skip to content
Deflock GRStop mass surveillance

Accountability

The Transparency Gap

Grand Rapids holds itself to a public standard that its neighbors do not. Since 2015, city policy has required Grand Rapids to disclose, in its annual budget, any new surveillance equipment it buys. We have not been able to identify an equivalent public-disclosure mechanism at the surrounding jurisdictions that operate or plan ALPR cameras. The comparison below records what each agency uses and whether a routine public-disclosure mechanism exists, based on available records. Where the record is incomplete, we say so, and records requests are pending.

The model

The model already exists: Grand Rapids Policy 15-03

Since 2015, City of Grand Rapids Administrative Policy 15-03, “Acquisition and Use of Surveillance Equipment and Surveillance Services,” has required the City to separately identify, in every annual budget, any public funds spent on new surveillance equipment covered by the policy. In the FY2027 Preliminary Fiscal Plan, the City reported no new surveillance funding subject to the policy. This kind of routine, public, budget-level disclosure is what surrounding jurisdictions currently lack.

City of Grand Rapids

Public disclosure required

Administrative Policy 15-03 (2015)

ALPR vendor
None disclosed for FY2027
Deployment status
Real Time Crime Center planned (not yet funded)
Notes
City policy requires annual public disclosure in the budget of any new surveillance equipment. The FY2027 Preliminary Fiscal Plan reports no new surveillance funding subject to the policy. A Real Time Crime Center appears as a future/out-year capital request.

Source: City of Grand Rapids FY2027 Preliminary Fiscal Plan (Apr 28, 2026) (source pending)

Kent County Sheriff's Office

None identified
ALPR vendor
Flock Safety
Deployment status
Referenced as contracting
Notes
Reported to contract with Flock Safety. No public surveillance-disclosure mechanism identified. Records request pending.

Source: mlive / Government Technology, Jan 10, 2025

City of Kentwood

None identified
ALPR vendor
Flock Safety (fixed) + Axon (mobile)
Deployment status
Deployed / expanding
Notes
10 fixed Flock cameras installed 2023; vehicle-mounted Axon ALPRs added under a $5.9M, 10-year Axon contract approved Dec 3, 2024. No public surveillance-disclosure mechanism identified.

Source: mlive / Government Technology, Jan 10, 2025

East Grand Rapids Dept. of Public Safety

None identified
ALPR vendor
Flock Safety
Deployment status
Stated intent (Dec 2022)
Notes
As of its December 2022 state re-accreditation report, the department's director stated an intent to install Flock Safety license plate readers at key intersections. Actual deployment not yet confirmed. Records request pending.

Source: MLEAC Onsite Re-Accreditation Report, East Grand Rapids DPS, Dec 2022 (source pending)

City of Wyoming

None identified
ALPR vendor
Flock Safety
Deployment status
Referenced as contracting
Notes
Reported to contract with Flock Safety. No public surveillance-disclosure mechanism identified. Records request pending.

Source: mlive / Government Technology, Jan 10, 2025

The ask

Neighboring agencies could close this gap by adopting Grand Rapids-style public disclosure: a simple, recurring, budget-level report of any new surveillance technology. Residents deserve to see what is being purchased and used in their name.

Ask for disclosure

Tell local officials that surveillance purchases belong in public view, the way Grand Rapids already requires.

Take action →