Henrico rips 120 cameras
County crews removed Flock hardware after the vendor missed its removal deadline.
By Ariana Flores ·
More than 120 Flock cameras disappeared from Henrico County roads Saturday. County Manager John Vithoulkas confirmed that local crews performed the teardown. They did so after the vendor failed to meet its contractual obligation to remove the equipment.
The county stopped using the automatic license plate readers in October. Officials cited privacy concerns as the primary reason for the decision. The contract stipulated that Flock would remove the hardware within two weeks of termination. That deadline passed without action from the company.
Henrico police cut ties with the system by mid-October. The board discussed the move on social media on Oct. 6. They noted that input from residents, officers, and experts shaped the final choice. The technology had drawn public criticism regarding data access and potential misuse.
Leaders described the action as preventative. They stated there was no evidence that Henrico police misused the system. Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, chairman of the Henrico Board of Supervisors, said the board felt it was the right time to act.
“Rather be proactive than reactive,” Cooper said. He noted the board was aware of national and state conversations. The decision evolved as they weighed the benefits of the technology against privacy risks.
The poles holding the cameras remain in place. Officials said it is Flock’s responsibility to remove those structures. The county handled the camera removal itself after the vendor missed the deadline.
