What happened
Two items regarding Flock Safety were on the agenda, with one proposing to purchase more equipment from the company and the other proposing to terminate the contract.
Flock was scheduled to give a presentation to the Commissioners Court at the Oct. 14 meeting, but the paperwork was not submitted on time. According to House Bill 1522, which became law on Sept. 1, local government agencies must post agendas at least three business days before a public meeting.
According to Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito, the Flock Safety contract requires a 30-day notice for termination. At that time, Flock representatives are expected to deactivate and remove the equipment.
Looking closer
Flock Safety has faced controversy in recent months over concerns about data privacy, including concerns about data being shared with outside law enforcement agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Flock’s technology tracks license plates and identifiable vehicle details. The ALPRs don’t have facial recognition software, but one Flock tool may be able to make a profile on someone based on vehicle and travel data.
In June, Austin officials terminated the city’s ALPR program due to public concerns. Round Rock, however, voted to expand its ALPR network, with the chief of police saying that the cameras helped solve many crimes, including a shooting in 2024.
While Hipolito says they do not have the official number of cases solved with help from the ALPRs, he said they were used to solve four cases in the past month alone.
“It’s used every single day, by our investigators [and] our deputies on the road,” Hipolito said. “I can’t emphasize it enough, it’s a huge loss for our agency. ... It’s unfortunate for the citizens of Hays County that a tool has been taken from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office that we use to efficiently track down criminals that have committed crimes here in [the county].”
The background
In February, the court unanimously voted in favor of using grant funds to purchase additional equipment from Flock Safety. However, a page was missing from the contract, which required an amended item to return to the court for another decision.
Hays County has used Flock Safety ALPRs since 2022. The county currently has six ALPRs over 681 square miles.
What they’re saying
The Court received over 30 minutes of public comments, with a majority of the comments related to Flock Safety. While some expressed support for the Flock ALPRS and their ability to help police solve crimes, others were concerned about the safety of community members and the company’s practices.
“The Flock system has proven itself as one of the most effective investigative tools available to law enforcement today,” Tyler Owen, a Wimberly resident with 20 years of law enforcement experience, said in an emailed statement to the court. “... Every minute counts in an investigation, and this technology gives law enforcement a critical advantage when time and information are limited.”
Claudia Zapata, a candidate for Kyle City Council Place 3, criticized Flock’s data practices.
“Flock’s business model isn't about public safety, it’s about access,” Zapata said. “They profit by collecting, storing and sharing location data. The data doesn’t stay here, it gets pulled into federal systems and, yes, it gets used by ICE. ... If you vote to continue this system, knowing that it doesn’t prevent crime, doesn’t track outcomes, puts our residents' privacy at risk and could be ended for $3,000, then this community will remember.”
Commissioners Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe and Michelle Cohen, along with Judge Ruben Becerra, voted to terminate the Flock Safety contract. Inglasbe and Cohen voiced an interest in exploring options with other companies.
“I know that we’ve been criticized for being delayed, but it was just more of an attempt to understand what happened from February when we all voted yes for [more Flock cameras],” Cohen said. “I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s more about the company's practices versus the technology.”
Commissioners Morgan Hammer and Walt Smith voted against terminating the contract with Flock Safety, voicing a commitment to public safety.
“I definitely listen to all sides of everything,” Hammer said. “... But at the end of the day ... I’m going to back our sheriff’s office, I’m going to back our DA’s office. I’m going to understand that this is a tool for them. ... There was a capital murder on Aug. 20 that was convicted with [the] help of these Flock cameras. So, it’s not about not understanding the concerns, it’s about public safety. I won’t compromise public safety.”
County Judge Ruben Becerra addressed that, despite the court’s previous unanimous vote, circumstances have changed.
“I voted for the Flocks in February,” Ruben Becerra said. “What’s also changed, though, is the federal government. Like it or not, it’s very different than the federal government we’ve had in all of our existence. It’s being used in ways that are so different, and that is what has caused concern in privacy, in security risks and legal exposures [and] ineffectiveness. ... Public safety is a huge deal to me, and public safety begins with public support.”
Community Impact reached out to Flock Safety for comment, but did not receive a response at press time.
