Henrico removes 120 Flock cameras after company misses deadline

Henrico County crews removed all Flock automatic license plate reader cameras from the region last Saturday.

County Manager John Vithoulkas stated that workers pulled more than 120 units from their poles. Officials said they took down the hardware because Flock did not meet its contractual obligation to remove the equipment. The company was required to clear the devices within two weeks of the contract ending. The county ended its use of the cameras last month citing privacy issues. Police stopped using the system by mid-October after discussions with other leaders and residents. The decision came after officials weighed the benefits of the technology against concerns about data access. Leaders described the move as preventative. 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. '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 poles holding the cameras remain in place. Flock is responsible for removing those structures. The technology has faced public criticism regarding privacy and potential misuse.

The county posted about the separation on social media on Oct. 6.

Residents and experts contributed to the county’s final decision.