Why Vendor Competition Matters for Your Agency’s Future

Public safety technology should serve one purpose: to help you protect your community more effectively, ethically, and efficiently. It should be built to meet your agency’s needs, reflect the values of the people you serve, and evolve alongside your mission.

But that kind of progress only happens when agencies have real choices—and when technology companies compete to deliver their best.

When Competition Disappears, Agencies Lose Leverage

In a healthy, competitive environment, vendors work hard to innovate, improve support, and offer fair pricing. Agencies benefit from new capabilities, responsive partners, and systems that evolve with their changing needs.

But when competition fades, so does innovation.

A clear example of this is what happened in the body-worn camera market. After Axon acquired VieVu, a direct competitor, many agencies that had long relied on VieVu’s cameras were quickly moved onto new contracts under new terms. Prices rose. Options narrowed. And agencies were left with fewer tools and less flexibility.

This isn’t just a story about pricing. It’s a story about independence. About maintaining control over the tools your officers use every day and ensuring those tools are shaped by your department’s needs, not a corporation’s bottom line.

Why Choice Matters in Public Safety Technology

Every agency is unique. Your community’s challenges, your department’s priorities, and your operational workflows aren’t the same as those of another city or county. So why should your technology be?

When agencies are forced into one-size-fits-all systems, or locked into contracts with limited flexibility, public safety suffers. You deserve the ability to choose the solutions that align with your mission; tools that integrate with your operations, reflect your values, and deliver real results.

A federal class-action lawsuit filed in August 2023 underscores the dangers of market consolidation. Axon is accused of unlawfully monopolizing the body-worn camera market through its 2018 acquisition of VieVu and a series of 12-year non-compete and no-poach agreements. Plaintiffs argue that these tactics eliminated meaningful competition and inflated costs for public safety agencies. In January 2025, a federal judge denied Axon’s motion to dismiss key antitrust claims, allowing the case to proceed. This development highlights why vendor choice isn’t just a preference—it’s a safeguard for public agencies.

Flock Believes in an Open Ecosystem, Because It’s Built for You

At Flock, we believe that public safety works best when agencies have the power to choose, the freedom to customize, and the ability to scale. That’s why we’re committed to building an open ecosystem, not a closed one.

• We prioritize integrations, not exclusivity. Our platform is designed to work seamlessly with your existing tools: from Real-Time Crime Centers to dispatch software to analytics platforms. Whether you’re using Flock cameras, drones, or third-party systems, you can unify your tech stack without friction.
  
• We listen to officers and communities. Every feature we build is informed by direct feedback from the field. Our engineers partner closely with law enforcement leaders and frontline personnel to understand what actually helps you solve crime, plus what gets in your way.
  
• We believe in safety on your terms. Your community defines what safety means. Your public safety tech stack should empower law enforcement leaders, civic officials and community members with technology that can be used not just to catch offenders—but to build trust, prevent harm, and align public safety goals with community values.

When technology reflects the needs of your community, rather than the agenda of a single vendor, it becomes a force multiplier. That’s what we’re building at Flock.

What You Can Do as a Leader

As your agency evaluates its technology partners, here are a few ways to safeguard your flexibility and influence:

1. Look for open systems. Prioritize vendors who support integrations and don’t penalize you for using complementary platforms.
   
2. Ask about pricing transparency. Understand the long-term cost structure, including renewals, service changes, and potential dependencies.
   
3. Choose partners who listen. Seek vendors who regularly meet with your team, incorporate your feedback, and adapt their tools to your operational needs.
   

Your Mission Deserves Better Than a Monopoly

Your agency’s role is too important to be served by stagnant systems and inflexible contracts. You deserve technology that grows with you, that integrates with your evolving operations, and that reflects the values of the people you protect.

Vendor competition doesn’t just drive better pricing—it drives better policing outcomes. And in today’s rapidly changing landscape, that’s exactly what public safety demands.