City of West St. Paul
suspends use of Flock cameras

By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | September 2026

West St. Paul City Manager Nate Burkett recently announced the city has suspended its use of Flock cameras, which utilize automated license plate reading technology. All 10 cameras have been taken down and will require city council approval if they are ever to be reinstalled. In an interview earlier this year, West St. Paul Police Chief Brian Sturgeon said some residents had raised concerns that the cameras are able to see the faces of people inside vehicles, thus violating privacy. He stated that the cameras are positioned at specific angles to prevent that, and Burkett’s recent statement said a formal review revealed the cameras were only used for legitimate local law enforcement uses. The first cameras were installed in late 2025 and the program is funded by a three-year Minnesota Department of Public Safety grant received in partnership with the City of South St. Paul.

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