Bobby Lambert is a sergeant in the Dakota County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota with about 30 years in law enforcement, including work as a patrol officer and instructor. He is a candidate for Dakota County sheriff in 2026.
Case
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Role at the time: Dakota County Sheriff's Office sergeant and candidate for Dakota County sheriff
Statement summary
Bobby Lambert said that with Flock Safety's pending updates and improved data security he would support continued use of the cameras in Dakota County, calling them a vital law-enforcement tool.
“With Flock Safety’s pending updates and improved data security and management, I would support their continued use within Dakota County. Flock cameras can be a vital tool for law enforcement to identify and locate unlicensed drivers, stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, missing persons, vulnerable adults, abductions, wanted persons, KOPS (Keeping Our Police Safe) Alerts, Amber Alerts, and individuals who may be in crisis.”
The reference point is whether networked license-plate readers such as Flock should exist and be used. Lambert says he would support continued Flock use in Dakota County and calls the cameras a vital tool for finding stolen vehicles, missing people and wanted persons. He cites Flock's own coming security changes rather than setting conditions of his own, so Defended or excused fits.
Statement dates: September 16, 2026
Statement dates: September 16, 2026
Statement dates: September 16, 2026
Statement dates: September 16, 2026
