The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is abandoning the controversial Flock Safety camera system, joining a growing number of Colorado law enforcement agencies that have raised concerns about data privacy and ownership.

The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a nearly $22.8 million contract with public safety technology company Axon that will replace the county’s network of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras and add a countywide drone response system.

The package includes 100 Axon Outpost license plate reader cameras, replacing the county’s existing 50 Flock cameras, as well as a network of “first responder drones” stationed throughout the county. Officials said the technology will improve emergency response times and help conserve public safety resources.

The move follows similar decisions in other Colorado jurisdictions.

Earlier this year, Denver ended its contract with Flock amid controversy over the company’s data-sharing practices and reports of a secret agreement involving federal immigration enforcement. The city later signed a new agreement with Axon. Fort Collins also shut down its network of Flock cameras in June.

The decision marks a notable shift for Douglas County.

After Denver announced it would not renew its Flock contract, Sheriff Darren Weekly publicly defended the system. In a May 2025 social media post, Weekly said the cameras helped law enforcement capture criminals and argued that Denver’s “policies empower criminals and make our entire metro area less safe.”

County commissioners said concerns about data control ultimately drove the decision to change providers.

“I myself had rather serious concerns about the data retention policies, not of our sheriff’s department, but of the company itself,” Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle said.

Sheriff’s officials told commissioners that under the Axon system, Douglas County will retain ownership of its data.

“Currently right now with Flock, we do not own that data,” Division Chief Taylor Davis said during Tuesday’s BOCC meeting.

Those concerns had not previously discouraged the county from expanding its use of Flock cameras. As recently as May 2025, commissioners approved spending $91,000 on additional cameras at publicly accessible trailheads.

Months later, 9News reported that a Douglas County Flock camera overlooking a trailhead had been hacked and livestreamed over the open internet, allowing anyone to view the footage. The report also identified dozens of other internet-connected cameras associated with Colorado IP addresses.

Despite support from law enforcement and emergency responders, several residents raised concerns about expanded surveillance capabilities and accountability.

State Rep. Bob Marshall urged commissioners to delay deployment, argued that future county leaders and Axon could change policies governing the technology and called for citizen oversight.

“Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety,” Marshall said during public comment. 

Another resident questioned whether it was appropriate for the sheriff’s office to audit its own use of the technology.

Sheriff’s officials told commissioners that the new technology is intended for criminal investigations and emergency response, not general surveillance.

Automated license plate reader data will be retained for 30 days unless it becomes part of an active criminal investigation, officials said. The sheriff’s office will conduct quarterly audits, and the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office will provide additional oversight.

Commissioner Abe Laydon acknowledged the concerns, saying the county must balance privacy rights with public safety.

“I am deeply concerned about privacy and making sure that we are thinking about unreasonable search and seizure and honoring the right of our free citizens to remain free without surveillance,” Laydon said. “We must balance that against the needs to keep our citizens safe.”

A significant portion of the contract is dedicated to Axon’s drone program.

Under the system, drones will be launched from docking stations throughout the county only after dispatchers receive calls involving emergencies such as traffic crashes, fires or threats to public safety.

Officials said drones could often arrive within one or two minutes, providing live video to first responders and helping determine whether an in-person response is necessary.

Franktown Fire Chief David Woodick said the technology could be especially valuable during wildfires, evacuations and search-and-rescue operations.

“The ability to have eyes on a fire in a short period of time,” Woodick said, “is critical to responders.”

County leaders said the agreement is designed to address privacy concerns while preserving tools they believe are valuable for locating stolen vehicles, responding to Amber Alerts, investigating crimes and improving emergency response.