Henrico removes Flock cameras

Residents of Henrico County saw the Flock camera network disappear over the weekend. Local crews dismantled more than 120 units on Saturday. These devices scanned license plates automatically across the region.

Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas confirmed the removal count. He stated that staff had to handle the takedown themselves. The vendor missed a contractual deadline to remove the hardware. The agreement ended last month. Officials said the cameras were scheduled for removal within two weeks of that date.

The poles supporting the cameras remain standing. Flock is responsible for taking those down next. County leaders cut ties with the police department's use of the system by mid-October. They cited a social media post from October 6 as the starting point for the disconnect.

Board Chairman Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III explained the timing of the decision. He noted that the group watched national and state debates on the technology. “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.

Officials described the move as preventative. They said there was no evidence of misuse by Henrico police. The decision followed feedback from residents, officers, and privacy experts. The county is now waiting for Flock to finish clearing the street poles.