Saginaw Township approves Flock camera system
Board of trustees approves purchase of 34 license plate readers at strategic intersections
SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Saginaw Township is getting 34 Flock safety cameras after the board of trustees approved the purchase during its meeting Tuesday night.
Police Chief Scott Malace said the cameras will be placed at strategic intersections that cover exits and entries into the township. The cameras are license plate readers that will capture a still shot of the back of a vehicle as it passes by.
“We’re very excited. This is another investigative tool. It’s not the end all tool, but it is another tool that we have at our disposal to help solve crimes and maybe prevent crimes from occurring in Saginaw Township, and to help protect the residents here,” Malace said.
Malace said Flock cameras have worked well in neighboring communities.
Besides solving crime, the cameras can be used for missing and endangered person cases and help with locating people of interest, Malace said.
The cameras are not in place yet. Malace said cameras on local roadways could be installed in a month or two. Cameras on state trunk lines will require working with the Michigan Department of Transportation and could take six to eight months.
Malace said the cameras only read license plates and do not have facial recognition technology. The pictures taken will not have anything associated with them that would lead to identifying someone.
“For those that are concerned about security, we’re very conscious of that. We’re not going to share data with anybody that doesn’t have a criminal case, that they’re looking for information. We’re going to have quarterly audits. We have a very tight policy. And we’ll be accountable and transparent with our community,” Malace said.
License plate photos will be stored in Saginaw Township’s Flock system for 30 days and then deleted on the 31st day.
The Flock safety camera system will cost Saginaw Township $147,000 for the first year and $108,000 each year after that.
Subscribe to the WNEM TV5 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every day.
Copyright 2026 WNEM. All rights reserved.