Dallas police shutting down hundreds of Flock cameras after funding pause

The Dallas Police Department said Tuesday it is shutting down more than 300 Flock cameras after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered state agencies to halt funding for the roadside camera network.

The city will cancel 321 of the company’s automated license plate readers supported by state funding by Sept. 15, authorities said. More than 300 Flock cameras will still be operating throughout Dallas.

“These cameras remain an important investigative tool and are used daily by detectives and officers to develop leads, identify vehicles associated with criminal activity, and assist in solving crimes,” the department wrote in a post on the social platform X.

“The Dallas Police Department will continue evaluating available resources and technology to ensure our officers and detectives have effective tools to support investigations and enhance public safety,” it continued.

The Hill has reached out to Flock Safety for comment.

Texas is one of several states and local jurisdictions moving away from Flock cameras amid a growing backlash over privacy concerns.

Florida said Monday it was halting the use of the company’s cameras on state highways. Two Phoenix-area suburbs, Tempe and Cave Creek, announced last week that they were canceling their contracts with Flock.

As the company began facing pushback last month, it unveiled changes to its privacy and data retention policies in an effort to quell concerns.

The firm shortened the recommended window for default data retention from 30 to seven days and added a new option for cities to control when other agencies can access Flock cameras. It will also require its customers to implement “audit assistance,” a feature to spot and flag abnormal activity.