At least six Arkansas cities have ended, suspended, or moved to discontinue their use of Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras in recent weeks, citing privacy concerns, costs, and public trust.
Cities including Pea Ridge, Cabot, Mayflower, Centerton, Searcy, and Greers Ferry have taken action since late July. The decisions varied from permanent contract terminations to temporary suspensions.
In Greers Ferry, Police Chief David Starbuck announced on Aug. 12 that the city would suspend the program and remove the cameras. Starbuck emphasized the importance of balancing public safety with citizen privacy. "This decision was not made lightly," he said, thanking residents for sharing concerns and committing to transparency within the department.
The wave of actions began July 24 in Pea Ridge, where Police Chief Lynn Hahn decided to discontinue the city's Flock Safety program. Hahn said their decision followed an evaluation of costs, benefits, and community feedback. While police credited the cameras with assisting investigations, Hahn highlighted the need for any safety tool to justify its financial and public trust impacts.
Cabot joined on Aug. 7, with Mayor Ken Kincade announcing that Police Chief Bryan Dodd had suspended the program. The department disconnected cameras from power sources and limited their use to only local agencies. Cabot has not yet confirmed a permanent termination of its agreement with Flock Safety.
On Aug. 10, Mayflower took a definitive step by ending its use of the cameras entirely. Interim Police Chief Brittany Byrd acknowledged the technology’s investigative benefits but described it as intrusive. She noted that law enforcement tools should not compromise citizen liberties. The move came despite an active contract with Flock Safety that runs until 2027, leaving the city in negotiations over camera removal.
The following day, Aug. 11, Centerton and Searcy both voted unanimously to cease using Flock cameras. In Centerton, Councilman Justin Cowgur pointed to privacy and cost concerns as key factors, adding that initial public support had waned following national scrutiny over how such technologies are used. Searcy officials primarily cited the system’s underuse.
Flock cameras monitor vehicles in public spaces by capturing license plate numbers and other details, creating searchable records for law enforcement. These tools have been credited with aiding efforts to recover stolen vehicles, locate suspects, and support investigations. Flock Safety has defended the technology, stating their systems do not utilize facial recognition, that data is controlled locally, and that customer data is not sold. On Aug. 13, the company announced enhanced safeguards, including a recommended seven-day data retention policy and expanded auditing protocols.
Despite the concerns raised, some Arkansas cities continue to embrace the system. Jonesboro officials, for example, recently expanded to 54 Flock cameras. Lt. David McDaniel of the Jonesboro Police Department characterized the cameras as effective law enforcement tools.
The debate reflects broader tensions between public safety priorities and individual privacy protections, with Arkansas communities responding in a variety of ways.