GRPD, Kent Co. Sheriff's Office launch new transparency portal on use of Flock cameras
The short version: Grand Rapids PD and Kent County Sheriff's new Flock transparency portals are a start, but disclosure isn't the same as oversight, consent, or limits on data sharing.
Our Take
Credit where it's due: 13 On Your Side's report on Grand Rapids PD and the Kent County Sheriff's Office rolling out Flock transparency portals is the kind of local accountability journalism this beat needs. Letting residents see how often ALPR cameras are queried, and in theory why, beats the total opacity most departments operate under.
But let's be clear about what a transparency portal actually is: a dashboard built and hosted by the vendor whose business model depends on more cameras, more data, and more departments buying in. It tells you search counts, not whether a search was justified, whether data got shared with ICE or an out-of-state agency through Flock's national network, or how long footage sits in the system before deletion. Transparency without independent audits and hard retention/sharing limits is just a nicer-looking black box.
If you live in Kent County, don't stop at the dashboard — check our camera map to see what's actually watching your street, and use our take-action guide to push your city council for real policy, not just a prettier portal.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of 13 ON YOUR SIDE, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.