Henrico removes 120 cameras after Flock misses deadline
County crews took down the devices Saturday after the vendor failed to meet its contractual obligation.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
More than 120 Flock cameras were taken down in Henrico County, Virginia, on Saturday. County Manager John Vithoulkas confirmed that local crews completed the removal work over the weekend.
The county ended its use of the automatic license plate reader technology last month. Officials stated that the decision followed feedback from residents, police, and experts regarding privacy and data access. Henrico police cut ties with the system by mid-October.
County leaders described the move as a preventative measure. They noted that there was no evidence of police misuse of the system. Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, chairman of the Henrico Board of Supervisors, explained the timing. "Rather be proactive than reactive. And we’re aware of the conversations that are occurring nationally, as well as on the state level. And we just, again, felt that this was the right time to make this decision," Cooper said.
Flock was responsible for removing the hardware after the contract ended. The agreement required the cameras to be gone within two weeks. That deadline passed without the vendor acting, so the county intervened. Officials said the poles holding the cameras remain in place. Removing those poles is still Flock’s responsibility.
The technology has faced public criticism over privacy and potential misuse. The county acted to address these concerns before they became larger issues. The physical removal of the cameras marks the end of the system's presence in the county.
