Marshall County Council makes final vote to end Flock camera contract

MARHSALL COUNTY, Ind. -- The Marshall County Council voted 4-3 to end the county’s contract with Flock Safety cameras, setting up a Dec. 31 termination date after weeks of disagreement over the council’s authority to withdraw funding.

The vote follows an earlier decision by the council to defund the contract and a subsequent move by county commissioners to cover the existing cameras. 

The dispute has drawn criticism from county officials and residents on both sides of the issue.

The county prosecutor, Nelson Chipman, previously argued the council did not have the authority to cancel the contract.

In response, the council worked with its attorney, Marcellus Leppin, to draft an updated resolution declaring that the contract would be canceled at the end of the year.

Leppin said state law gives the council authority over funding for the prosecutor’s office.

“This is public money that must be appropriated by the county council; otherwise, it can’t be paid,” Leppin said.

Council member Brandon Schadek said the council believes it has the authority to decide whether to fund the cameras.

“We think it’s within our right not to fund it or fund it, and that’s what we’re gonna do tonight,” Schadek said. “One side or the other, people are gonna be ticked off.”

The back-and-forth between the council and the prosecutor’s office has become a point of tension among county officials and residents.

Schadek said he hopes the latest vote brings the dispute to a close.

“I’m ready for this to be over in Marshall County.” He said.

However, some residents continue to support keeping the cameras in place, arguing the technology could help law enforcement identify vehicles and assist in investigations.

Plymouth resident Robin Myers said she hopes the county continues discussing the decision, pointing to concerns about how the loss of the cameras could affect cooperation with neighboring communities.

 “I wanna be that county that everybody turns to, so we’ve gotta do our own thing.” Myers said.

The debate comes as other communities reconsider their use of automated license plate-reading technology. Nearby Kosciusko County terminated its Flock contract early in September.

Marshall County officials now face the Dec. 31 deadline established by the council’s latest resolution.