At Least Six Arkansas Cities End or Suspend Flock Camera Programs

Officials cited privacy, public trust, cost and underuse, even as several acknowledged the cameras had assisted criminal investigations.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Six or more Arkansas cities have ended, moved to end or suspended their use of Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras in less than three weeks amid concerns about privacy, cost and public trust.

Pea Ridge, Cabot, Mayflower, Centerton, Searcy and Greers Ferry have all taken action since July 24. The decisions were not identical: Cabot described its move as a suspension, while other cities are discontinuing their programs or terminating contracts. Searcy primarily cited underuse, while officials elsewhere focused more heavily on privacy and civil liberties.

Greers Ferry Police Chief David Starbuck announced Wednesday, Aug. 12, that he would contact Flock Safety to suspend service and begin having the cameras removed from the city.

“This decision was not made lightly,” Starbuck said. “As chief of police, I believe the safety of our community must always be balanced with the privacy, trust and concerns of the citizens we serve.”

Starbuck thanked residents who shared their concerns and said the department would continue working to protect the community while maintaining transparency and accountability.

The series of decisions began July 24, when Pea Ridge Police Chief Lynn Hahn announced that his department would discontinue its participation in the Flock Safety program.

Hahn said the decision followed an analysis of the system’s benefits, the city’s return on investment, concerns expressed by residents and the time and attention the issue continued to consume.

Pea Ridge police said the cameras had helped officers recover stolen vehicles, identify suspects, locate missing people and support criminal investigations. The department also stressed that its decision was not based on misuse by officers or a conclusion that the technology was ineffective.

“Every tool we use must provide sufficient value to justify its financial cost, administrative burden and impact on public trust,” Hahn said.

Cabot followed in early August. Mayor Ken Kincade said Aug. 7 that Police Chief Dodd had suspended the Police Department’s access to the cameras and that other agencies could no longer access Cabot’s Flock system.

City workers disconnected the cameras from their solar-powered battery sources and physically covered the devices. Cabot described the action as a suspension and did not announce that its agreement had been permanently terminated.

Mayflower took a more definitive step Aug. 10. Interim Police Chief Brittany Byrd announced that the city was immediately discontinuing use of the cameras and rescinding their deployment.

Mayflower entered a multiyear agreement with Flock Safety in 2023 that remains in effect through September 2027. Police personnel have been negotiating with the company over removal of the cameras despite the continuing contractual obligation.

Byrd acknowledged that Flock cameras had aided investigations and prosecutions both nationally and within Mayflower. She said the technology can be valuable when properly used but described it as intrusive.

“The Mayflower Police Department will not participate in tactics which compromise or infringe upon the liberties entitled to law-abiding citizens,” Byrd said.

A website was launched allowing citizens to check records to see if they’ve been searched in the Flock system. https://haveibeenflocked.com/

The Centerton City Council voted unanimously Aug. 11 to end the city’s use of Flock cameras and license plate readers.

Councilman Justin Cowgur said he initially supported using the technology in city parks and elsewhere in the community. He said he later developed concerns involving privacy, cost, how the system was being used and limited account support from Flock.

Cowgur said the decision was not based on distrust of Centerton employees or public safety officials. He said public reaction also changed as national reports raised questions about misuse of the technology.

The Searcy City Council also voted unanimously Aug. 11 to discontinue the city’s use of Flock cameras. City spokesperson Michelle Pugh said the cameras were being underused.

Flock cameras capture images of vehicles traveling on public roads and create searchable records containing license plate numbers, vehicle characteristics, locations and times. Law enforcement agencies can use the information to locate stolen vehicles, identify vehicles connected to investigations and generate alerts.

Flock Safety says its cameras do not use facial recognition, the company does not sell customer data and local agencies control access, sharing and retention. The company announced additional safeguards Aug. 13, including a recommended seven-day data-retention period, required case codes, expanded auditing and proactive account lockouts when potentially improper use is detected.

The Arkansas officials pulling back from the system did not uniformly conclude that the technology was ineffective. Several credited it with helping solve crimes and locate suspects or missing people.

Jonesboro officials lauded the system as a helpful tool in their arsenal as the city has expanded to 54 cameras.

“It’s not nefarious,” Lt. David McDaniel over the JPD Real-Time Crime Center previously said. “It’s really a law enforcement tool.”

What Jonesboro’s 54 Flock Cameras Capture — and How Police Say They Use Them

We previously ran a poll asking readers if they supported the use of Flock cameras in NEA. As of this report, 82% had voted against.