Henrico County Rips Down 120 Flock Cameras After Contract Dispute

More than 120 automatic license plate reader cameras were pulled from poles across Henrico County, Virginia, on Saturday. County Manager John Vithoulkas confirmed the removal of the devices, which operated under the Flock brand.

The county took the action because Flock did not meet its contractual obligation to remove the hardware. Officials stated the cameras were scheduled to be gone within two weeks of the contract ending. That deadline passed without the equipment coming down, prompting local crews to handle the dismantling.

Henrico ended its use of the Flock system in October. The decision followed a review of resident feedback, police input, and expert opinions regarding data access and privacy. In a post on Oct. 6, the county noted that police cut ties with the technology by mid-October after consulting with other leaders.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III described the move as a preventative measure. He stated there was no evidence that Henrico police misused the system. Cooper added, “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.”

The technology has faced public criticism over privacy concerns and potential misuse. While the cameras are off the poles, officials said the poles themselves remain in place. Flock is responsible for removing those structures.