120 Cameras Topped: Henrico Removes Flock Units After Vendor Missed Deadline
County crews took down the automatic license plate readers over the weekend because Flock failed to meet its removal contract terms.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Henrico County crews physically removed more than 120 Flock cameras on Saturday, ending the county's use of the automatic license plate reader technology. The intervention was necessary because the vendor, Flock, failed to fulfill its contractual obligation to take the equipment down within two weeks of the contract ending.
County Manager John Vithoulkas confirmed the removal. While the cameras are now off the poles, officials stated that the poles themselves remain in place. Under the contract terms, it is Flock's responsibility to remove the remaining infrastructure.
Henrico County officially cut ties with the system in mid-October. The decision followed a period of discussion with other leaders, police, and residents. Officials weighed the benefits of the technology against privacy and data-access concerns raised by the public.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III described the move as preventative. He noted that while there was no evidence Henrico police misused the system, the county wanted to act before issues arose elsewhere.
“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. The county posted about the decision on social media on Oct. 6, signaling the end of the partnership.
The removal follows a broader trend of scrutiny regarding license plate readers. Henrico was one of the first jurisdictions to voluntarily end its use of Flock units, citing the need for clarity in how the data is accessed and stored.
