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Why Flock cameras are ALWAYS rammed through as "emergencies"
resignation& hiring at flock timeline:
Kerry McCormack resigned from Cleveland City Council on September 11, 2025, & exited on October 3, 2025. He joined Flock Safety as eastern US public affairs lead without a gap in employment.
Ideastream: https://www.ideastream.org/government-politics/2025-09-11/cleveland-councilmember-kerry-mccormack-resigns-before-end-of-term
WKYC: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/cleveland-city-councilman-kerry-mccormack-resign-ward-3-seat-october-majority-leader-flock-safety-lauren-welch/95-6380bc59-b942-4c43-a0fc-b1a61f8f8fea
ordinance 1367-2025 sole-source contract
The Bibb administration introduced a 3-year, $2,026,500 sole-source emergency contract with Flock Safety 24 days after McCormack's departure. The administration bypassed the request for proposal process.
Legistar https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7714153&GUID=D5D4E9A9-CED2-4198-9998-FCD9349ED5A4&Options=ID|Text|Attachments|Other|&Search=flock
The administration claimed Flock was the sole vendor for the integrated bundle. SoundThinking representatives testified on November 14 that they offer competing products.
Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/11/14/cleveland-shotspotter-flock
Signal Cleveland: https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-city-council-shotspotter-study-hearing/
Legal Codes
cleveland codified ordinances chapter 171: Contains no local revolving-door ordinance or cooling-off period. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-4565
ethics inquiries
McCormack stated his one-year recusal from Cleveland matters is voluntary. Public records show he contacted the Ohio Ethics Commission regarding restrictions one month prior to his departure. Council member Rebecca Maurer cited McCormack's new employment as a reason for hesitancy regarding the sole-source contract.
Signal Cleveland: https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-city-council-kerry-mccormack-flock-safety-contract/
News 5: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/more-questions-raised-about-flock-safety-in-cleveland-data-access-and-whos-watching
contract status & oppositio
Ordinance 1367-2025 is on hold in the Safety Committee following council refusal to proceed without an RFP. Safety Committee Chair Polensek proposed issuing a request for qualification.
Fox 8: https://fox8.com/news/cleveland-considers-transition-from-shotspotter-to-flock-council-pushes-back/
Cleveland Scene: https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-news/cleveland-puts-flock-expansion-on-hold-amid-local-pushback/
The group Flockno submitted 275 signatures to the city requesting the removal of Flock cameras upon contract expiration in June.
News 5: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/investigations/grassroots-group-presses-cleveland-to-end-relationship-with-flock-safety-expansion-plans-on-hold
View all episodes
By GravTuberesignation& hiring at flock timeline:
Kerry McCormack resigned from Cleveland City Council on September 11, 2025, & exited on October 3, 2025. He joined Flock Safety as eastern US public affairs lead without a gap in employment.
Ideastream: https://www.ideastream.org/government-politics/2025-09-11/cleveland-councilmember-kerry-mccormack-resigns-before-end-of-term
WKYC: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/cleveland-city-councilman-kerry-mccormack-resign-ward-3-seat-october-majority-leader-flock-safety-lauren-welch/95-6380bc59-b942-4c43-a0fc-b1a61f8f8fea
ordinance 1367-2025 sole-source contract
The Bibb administration introduced a 3-year, $2,026,500 sole-source emergency contract with Flock Safety 24 days after McCormack's departure. The administration bypassed the request for proposal process.
Legistar https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7714153&GUID=D5D4E9A9-CED2-4198-9998-FCD9349ED5A4&Options=ID|Text|Attachments|Other|&Search=flock
The administration claimed Flock was the sole vendor for the integrated bundle. SoundThinking representatives testified on November 14 that they offer competing products.
Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/11/14/cleveland-shotspotter-flock
Signal Cleveland: https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-city-council-shotspotter-study-hearing/
Legal Codes
cleveland codified ordinances chapter 171: Contains no local revolving-door ordinance or cooling-off period. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-4565
ethics inquiries
McCormack stated his one-year recusal from Cleveland matters is voluntary. Public records show he contacted the Ohio Ethics Commission regarding restrictions one month prior to his departure. Council member Rebecca Maurer cited McCormack's new employment as a reason for hesitancy regarding the sole-source contract.
Signal Cleveland: https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-city-council-kerry-mccormack-flock-safety-contract/
News 5: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/more-questions-raised-about-flock-safety-in-cleveland-data-access-and-whos-watching
contract status & oppositio
Ordinance 1367-2025 is on hold in the Safety Committee following council refusal to proceed without an RFP. Safety Committee Chair Polensek proposed issuing a request for qualification.
Fox 8: https://fox8.com/news/cleveland-considers-transition-from-shotspotter-to-flock-council-pushes-back/
Cleveland Scene: https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-news/cleveland-puts-flock-expansion-on-hold-amid-local-pushback/
The group Flockno submitted 275 signatures to the city requesting the removal of Flock cameras upon contract expiration in June.
News 5: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/investigations/grassroots-group-presses-cleveland-to-end-relationship-with-flock-safety-expansion-plans-on-hold