CogniLocal tracks where artificial intelligence and related automated systems are already entering the institutions that serve this community, who is deploying them, what they are being used for and what changes next.
ONGOINGColumbia Heights / Anoka County
Anoka County presented its own Flock and drone framework in Columbia Heights
Even after the city debate, automated surveillance remained a county-level issue. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office published a May 2026 presentation, delivered in Columbia Heights, describing its automated license-plate-reader program and drone operations.
The presentation listed county Flock camera locations, a 30-day retention period and restrictions on immigration-related searches. It also said the sheriff’s office did not yet have Drone as First Responder aircraft in service, while continuing to use traditional law-enforcement drones under state law.
- Presentation: Delivered in Columbia Heights, May 2026
- County systems: ALPR cameras plus traditional law-enforcement drones
ONGOING
Anoka County’s AI non-emergency call-taker is active
Anoka County Emergency Communications implemented an AI-assisted call-taker named Eric for low-priority calls to the county’s 10-digit non-emergency dispatch line. Eric gathers a caller’s name, phone number, location and description of the problem. A call involving an active emergency is transferred to a live telecommunicator, and 911 calls continue to be answered by people. County and local reporting say an employee reviews every AI-handled call before responders are notified. The system was reported to cost approximately $60,000 per year.
Columbia Heights residents can encounter Eric when calling the county non-emergency dispatch line. The county has not published error rates, transfer rates, language-performance data, caller-satisfaction data or an independent evaluation.
ONGOING
Columbia Heights ended its Flock camera network after privacy and data-sharing concerns
The Columbia Heights City Council voted June 8 to terminate services and prevent renewal of all Flock Safety contracts. The program covered seven fixed and five movable automated license-plate-reader cameras. The official motion directed immediate disconnection and removal. Subsequent local reporting said Police Department access to the Flock database and outside data sharing had ended, movable cameras had been removed, and fixed cameras were covered while awaiting physical removal.
Final contractual payments remain due under the canceled agreements. The final amount and confirmation that every fixed camera has been removed remain outstanding.
BACKGROUND
Separate Axon plate readers remain documented in 12 police squad cars
City police materials dated April 28 document 12 Columbia Heights squad cars equipped with Axon Fleet 3 cameras and automated license-plate recognition. The mobile system scans plates while officers drive and can issue alerts for stolen vehicles or active warrants; officers are instructed to verify an alert with dispatch before acting. The same materials say the system does not perform facial recognition, vehicle-owner and driver identities are not supplied by the ALPR vendor, data is retained for 30 days, and Axon-captured ALPR information was not being shared with other agencies.
The June Flock cancellation motion names Flock contracts and cameras, not the separately contracted Axon squad-car system. No later city record located today says the Axon units were deactivated.
The April 28 record establishes the equipment and rules at that time. Whether all 12 units remain active, whether access or retention rules have changed, and whether the city will publish a separate Axon audit remain unconfirmed.
NEW
Police Technology Advisory Committee awaits public appointments
The Police Department created a Technology Advisory Committee to give residents structured input into the planning, implementation and evaluation of departmental technology. Applications closed September 20. The City has not yet posted a member roster, appointment action or first meeting.
The committee is intended to advise on privacy, accountability and responsible use of police technology. Its membership and responsibilities require City Council approval. The city has not announced whether meetings will be public or what authority members will have over existing Axon equipment or future proposals.