Gulf Shores Police Rolling Out Flock Transparency Website
By: Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
August 31, 2026
GULF SHORES, Ala. With nationwide push back and protests over the use of Flock, Automated License Plate Reader camera, a Baldwin County police chief is stepping forward saying that the cameras work but that more transparency is needed.
Police Chief Dan Netemeyer says the technology has helped them solve a multitude of crimes. He said that the city has over 80 Flock cameras and they have been extremely valuable.
The city council approved a contract with Flock in September 2025. They were installed in the spring.
The Chief said that despite the flaws, and certain problems and that this technology works well in aiding in speedy arrests, information, searches for suspects and that license plate readers have been around for years.
Cameras were placed throughout the city from parks to the beaches. As a destination city, Netemeyer adds it’s a critical tool that has helped the department.
“And all of a sudden, recently, it’s been an issue. And this issue is coming from misinformation that’s being put out there with regard to these cameras. I encourage everybody to do their own research. Make sure it’s factual.”
Netemeyer says a transparency portal will be launched in the coming weeks. This will allow residents to see how the cameras are used.
The Chief made it clear, “We are not hiding anything. These cameras are in public place,” Netemeyer said. “They are taking a snapshot of a vehicle and a license plate. They’re not going into people’s homes, not tracking inside people’s homes. They’re not following people around. They are fixed objects that are tracking the street to which they are reading plates and getting descriptions of vehicles. no different than a police officer sitting there with a car camera on, filming every car that drives by.”
Nationwide, Automatic License Plate Reader Cameras are responsible for the recovery of thousands of missing and kidnapped children, tens of thousands of violent felons and fugitives, the recovery of thousands of stolen vehicles and aid in high profile cases across the country.
Although Flock is often mentioned in the media, there are many other brands and manufacturers of the Automatic License Plate Readers.
Flock is a brand, not the technology.
The contract is renewable every year for the city. The city would need to vote on it again once the city votes to approve the budget.
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