Where Rochester’s Flock Safety Cameras Are Located

Minnesota has been making headlines over the past year for installing speed cameras for the first time, but did you know there are already other automated cameras that are out there, too?

We're all aware of the various doorbell cameras that many Minnesotans have installed near their front doors or elsewhere on their property. And maybe you've also heard about another type of camera that's been making news in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. One of the most talked about is Flock Safety cameras.

How Flock Safety Cameras Work and Why Police Use Them

According to Business Insider, Flock Safety cameras are automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras that capture images of passing vehicles, including license plate numbers, vehicle make, model, color, and other distinguishing features. They're designed to alert law enforcement when a vehicle associated with a stolen car, a wanted suspect, a missing person, or other public safety issue passes a camera.

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An increasing number of Minnesota law enforcement agencies use Flock cameras, including the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Anoka County Sheriff's Office, Chisago County Sheriff's Office, Alexandria Police Department, and several other cities and counties.

Privacy Concerns Surround Minnesota's ALPR Camera Network

Police say they use the cameras to investigate crimes after they've occurred, receive real-time alerts on wanted or stolen vehicles, and share information with other participating law enforcement agencies.

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However, Business Insider notes that privacy advocates, including organizations like the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation, argue that because those cameras record information on virtually every passing vehicle, not just those linked to crimes, they create a broad surveillance network that can reveal people's movements and raise civil liberties concerns.

Where Rochester's Automated License Plate Reader Cameras Are Located

So, where are Flock Cameras located in Rochester? According to DeFlock maps, a crowd-sourced ALPR surveillance map, there are only 5 ALPR cameras currently up and running in Minnesota's Med City as of August 4, 2026:

• On 41st NW near the Highway 52 off-ramp, pointed eastward 
• On 41st Street NW near 18th Ave NW, pointed to the southwest
• Two on Canal Place SE in the parking lot near Roosters Too!, pointed northeast and southeast
• In the parking lot outside Lowe's Home Improvement, pointed south

The two cameras on 41st Street aren't technically Flock Safety cameras, as they're apparently made by a different manufacturer (Axon Enterprise), while the three cameras near Canal Place SE are Flock Safety cameras, according to DeFlock maps.

You can check the interactive map below to see where other ALPR cameras have been reported across Minnesota. And then check out the list of items you're banned from bringing into the Minnesota State Fair this year!