Wichita Extends Flock Safety Contract to 2027

The city council voted 5-1 to keep automated license-plate readers and gunshot-detection equipment in place until March 31, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Wichita Extends Flock Safety Contract to 2027

Live Poll

Should Wichita police be allowed to keep using license-plate cameras that track residents?

The Wichita City Council voted 5-1 on Tuesday to extend its Flock Safety contract, which covers automated license-plate readers and gunshot-detection equipment, at a cost of $259,208.63. The extension runs until March 31, 2027.

Why it matters

The extension comes as dozens of local governments across the U.S. have ended automated license-plate reader contracts in recent months. Wichita residents now have a defined decision point in March 2027 to weigh whether the program should continue.

The council extension passed 5-1 at a cost of $259,208.63, with Council member Mike Hoheisel casting the lone vote against it. A judge has not yet ruled on the city's motion to dismiss a pending lawsuit seeking removal of the cameras.

The players

Wichita City Council

The seven-member elected legislative body of Wichita, Kansas, which holds authority over city contracts and public safety spending.

Flock Safety

A private company that sells automated license-plate reader and gunshot-detection technology to law enforcement agencies across the United States.

Mike Hoheisel

A Wichita City Council member who was the lone vote against extending the Flock Safety contract.

The details

The extension was placed in the agenda as a change order for hardware and software maintenance, within the Board of Bids and Contracts section, which does not allow public comment. The agenda packet was published less than 24 hours before the meeting, and Flock continues to store data from Wichita drives for 30 days.

December 26, 2025: City began drafting a new Flock contract.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025: Council voted 5-1 to extend the Flock contract.
March 31, 2027: The extended Flock contract expires and the council will decide next steps.

Legal Context

While dozens of U.S. local governments have ended automated license-plate reader contracts in recent months, Wichita chose to extend its Flock arrangement and push the decision to March 31, 2027. The pending lawsuit over the cameras means the outcome of that future decision may also be shaped by court rulings on the program.

Wichita residents will have automated license-plate readers and gunshot-detection equipment in use through March 2027, with Flock storing vehicle photos from local drives for 30 days. Those who want a say in the program's future have a defined decision point but limited public comment opportunities on this contract extension.

The takeaway

The extension gives Wichita time to determine whether the community wants Flock services, so residents concerned about data retention and privacy should track the lawsuit and the council's March 2027 decision.

What happens next

The council will decide the future of Flock services at the March 31, 2027 decision point, and a judge's ruling on the city's motion to dismiss the pending lawsuit could arrive before then.