"Amid debate over technology such as drones and Flock automated license plate readers, Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise signed a $174,999 pilot program contract, placing it $1 below the threshold requiring County Board review.

Wise said law enforcement chiefs in the county had worked on the proposed contract with Flock since fall 2025 and first brought it to the board in January.

Because the initial cost exceeded Wise’s contracting authority, he had been discussing with the County Board how to begin a pilot project.

“It became clear that national politics was weighing into the discussions regarding drones and license plate readers,” Wise said. “It became clear to me that the only way for this pilot to move forward with a test run was to work for a vendor to operate a contract that I could sign of under $175,000.”

The final contract came in at $174,999."

  
See how they bypass the voters?

  
The sheriff and the company work together to get the price right so they can by pass the board...

  
Sounds legit, right?

  
[deflock.org](http://deflock.org)



ACSO signs contract for Flock, drone pilot without board approval