Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office issued a request for proposal (RFP) for license plate reader contracts on February 13, 2026. This comes on the heels of city council and community outcry over the city of Denver’s contract with Flock Safety and Mayor Johnston’s continued support for the surveillance technology. Just a few days after the mayor’s office issued the RFP, Denver Auditor Timothy O’Brien publicly posted a letter he sent to city officials declining to countersign the city’s contract with Flock, stating that “it incurs a risk of liability for the city.” The city’s contract with Flock Safety is set to expire in March 2026 but may still be extended through the RFP process.
The following Statement can be attributed to Anaya Robinson, ACLU of Colorado Public Policy Director:
“For far too long, Mayor Johnston ignored community concerns and has insisted on using Flock Safety to surveil the movements of anyone travelling inside city limits. This is notwithstanding Flock Safety’s poor security practices, the company’s creation of a national database, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) improper use of Flock data — despite public reassurances stating otherwise.
“While this RFP is an opportunity to turn the page, we cannot take it for granted. Any new contract must include rigorous guardrails around data retention, information sharing, and access limitations. These protections are critical in preventing abuses from government agencies or other bad actors. We cannot trade one dragnet surveillance company for another.
“In his zeal to defend Flock’s surveillance technology, Mayor Johnston has breached community trust and shut out key stakeholders and leaders. Johnston must repair his harms, recommit to community oversight, and engage with the city’s surveillance task force throughout the RFP process.”