Flock Safety Opens Voluntary Buyouts Amid Customer Exodus

Flock Safety has opened a voluntary employee separation program, offering what it describes as its most generous severance package yet as the surveillance technology company navigates significant business headwinds, according to details first reported by WIRED.

The program launched Friday with a deadline of October 2 for employees to apply. Flock expects to approve the majority of applications from its roughly 1,500-person workforce, according to an internal email obtained by WIRED. People familiar with the situation believe a substantial number of employees may seek to leave.

Why it matters

The voluntary buyout program signals deeper financial pressures at a company once valued at over $8 billion. While Flock frames the initiative as providing employee choice, the move appears designed to reduce headcount without formal layoffs as contract losses threaten revenue targets. For the broader surveillance technology sector, Flock's struggles illustrate how public backlash can rapidly translate into business consequences even for well-funded startups.

Contract losses and rising costs

Flock's business challenges have intensified in recent months. The company has lost numerous contracts this year, with one advocacy group identifying 93 city and county governments that severed ties with Flock in August alone. According to WIRED's reporting, roughly three times as many local governments dropped Flock in 2025 compared to the previous five years combined.

The company has also faced unexpected expenses from widespread vandalism targeting its camera network. Combined with contract losses, these factors could leave Flock short of revenue projections, according to sources familiar with the company's finances. Without voluntary departures, layoffs would likely be necessary, one person told WIRED.

Severance details

The separation package includes tens of thousands of dollars for some employees, several months of health care coverage, and an extended two-year window to exercise stock options—longer than the company's standard offering for departing employees. Flock described the package as roughly double its previous severance offers.

Employees will learn whether their applications were accepted on October 9, with most approved departures taking effect by October 29. Some employees may be asked to remain for an additional one to three months.

Privacy concerns fuel backlash

Flock's license plate reader network has drawn increasing scrutiny over privacy and potential misuse. Recent WIRED investigations documented officers allegedly using Flock systems to track former romantic partners and colleagues, revealed extensive data-sharing among agencies, and exposed the breadth of information collected by the cameras.

Flock CEO Garrett Langley acknowledged on a podcast last month that "the biggest damage" from the backlash had been to "internal morale," questioning why criticism had intensified after nine years of similar operations.

The company, which has raised approximately $1.2 billion in venture capital since its 2017 founding, recently expanded beyond license plate readers into AI-powered investigative software. WIRED reported that new tools can identify drivers, map potential associates based on movement patterns, and search across police records. Code analysis also revealed potential integrations with drones and other surveillance systems.

Some employees may accept buyouts amid speculation that Flock could need to sell parts or all of its business, sources told WIRED.

These details were first reported by WIRED.