Stillwater Surveillance Accountability
Updated November 4, 2026
STILLWATER, MINNESOTA
Why all the surveillance in our town?
Our river town deserves clear answers about its license plate readers and cameras that pan, tilt, and zoom. What problems are these tools meant to solve, and how will Stillwater know whether they’re working?
An independent community resource · Read the records. Ask informed questions.
Stillwater at a glance
- residents
- 19,354July 2025 Census estimate · S20
- reported violent offenses
- 162024 FBI release · S21
- city-reported cameras
- 3717 plate readers + 20 PTZ video cameras · 8 more PTZ cameras pending · S3
Camera figures are the City’s published counts, reviewed November 4, 2026. Crime figures describe reported offenses.
PTZ video deserves its own public accounting
Video cameras are a separate part of the program
- PTZ cameras reported by the City
- 20
- additional PTZ cameras pending
- 8
- PTZ cameras listed in the contract
- 28
The City reports more PTZ video cameras than plate readers. It says authorized personnel can adjust their direction during an incident or event. This warrants scrutiny of who can view, control, save and share video.
The City’s published inventory and the contract order describe different stages. These figures do not establish how many cameras are active today. Pending cameras are excluded from the 37-camera headline.
How does Stillwater compare nearby?
Compare reported crime at the same rate per resident, and account for both plate readers and PTZ video. Unknown camera counts remain visible as gaps.
- Stillwater
- 83.416 reported offenses
- Oakdale
- 180.851 reported offenses
- Woodbury
- 98.880 reported offenses
Population denominators: July 2025 Census estimates.
- Stillwater · plate readers
- 17Flock · S3
- Stillwater · PTZ video
- 208 more pending · S3
- Oakdale · plate readers
- 6Motorola · S22
- Oakdale · PTZ video
- Not establishedNot established
- Woodbury · plate readers
- 17Flock · S23; current count unverified
- Woodbury · PTZ video
- Not establishedNot established
PTZ counts for Oakdale and Woodbury are not established; missing bars do not mean zero. Stillwater’s 8 pending PTZ cameras are excluded from its current reported total.
| Community | Residents · 2025 estimate | Violent offenses · 2024 count / per 100k | Stationary ALPRs | PTZ video cameras | Camera source / date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stillwater | 19,354 | 16 / 83.4 | 17 · Flock | 20 · +8 pending | S3 · City page reviewed Nov. 4, 2026 |
| Oakdale | 30,588 | 51 / 180.8 | 6 · Motorola | Not established | S22 · City page reviewed Nov. 4, 2026 |
| Woodbury | 81,558 | 80 / 98.8 | 17 · Flock | Not established | S23 · Sept. 23, 2025 meeting; current total unverified |
A little more about our town
Community scale and public services
- square miles of land
- 8.052020 Census · S20
- households
- 8,0782020–2024 estimate · S20
- positive police service ratings
- 72%2024 survey respondents · S26
- annual Flock contract price
- $139,800Signed agreement; payment not verified · S1
THE QUESTION IS ABOUT PROPORTION
What should residents get in return?
The City describes cameras as tools for investigations, stolen vehicles and missing people. Residents can ask for documented outcomes, costs, access rules and alternatives. Low reported crime alone cannot settle that decision.
Who can watch or control PTZ video?
Who searched plate-reader records?
How are vendors selected?
What evidence is still missing?
Stillwater Surveillance Accountability · Updated November 4, 2026 · Community context, reviewed records and follow-up. Original dashboard and source register ↗