Henrico County: Local crews dismantle 120 Flock cameras

Henrico County workers in Virginia completed the removal of all Flock cameras on Saturday. County Manager John Vithoulkas stated that crews dismantled more than 120 units. The local government acted because Flock failed to meet its contractual obligation to take down the equipment.

The county stopped using the automatic license plate readers last month. Officials originally planned for the cameras to be removed within two weeks of the contract ending. That deadline passed without action from the vendor. The poles supporting the cameras remain standing, though Flock is responsible for their removal.

Police ended their partnership with the technology by mid-October. The decision followed discussions with residents, law enforcement, and privacy experts. These groups debated the utility of the system against concerns about data access. Leaders characterized the move as a preventative measure. They noted there was no evidence that Henrico police misused the system.

Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, chairman of the Henrico Board of Supervisors, explained the timing of the decision. He said leaders felt it was the right moment to act. Cooper noted that the board was aware of national and state-level conversations regarding surveillance technology. He described the approach as being proactive rather than reactive.

The technology has faced public criticism over privacy and potential misuse. The county announced the initial decision to cut ties on social media on Oct. 6. The removal process concluded this weekend after the vendor did not fulfill its duties.