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 Charter Section 36: Classifies emergencies to bypass the three-reading requirement & 30-day waiting period. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-252
- Cleveland Charter Section 108: Dictates competitive bidding for contracts exceeding $50,000. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-627
- City of Cleveland Purchases: Mandates an RFP for professional services contracts. https://www.clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/departments/finance/divisions/purchases-supplies
- Ohio Revised Code 102.03: Bars former officials from representing clients on matters they participated in for 12 months. Subsection A5 excludes legislative matters from this definition. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-102.03
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
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuQqNkYgVqE