Lockhart council votes 6-1 not to adopt Flock Safety license-plate reader system after public privacy concerns

The Lockhart City Council voted 6-1 not to move forward with a proposed law enforcement agreement with Flock Group Inc. for fixed automated license plate reader (LPR) cameras, following a presentation by police staff and two Flock representatives and more than an hour of public comment and council questions.

Council members heard the Lockhart Police Department describe the system as a public-safety tool and were shown company presentations about how the cameras operate, what data they capture and the vendor’s retention and auditing features. Police Chief Gary Williamson said the department views the technology as an aid in investigating crimes such as burglary of motor vehicles and described the system as “a force multiplier” for an understaffed department.

The decision matters because the proposal would have placed seven fixed cameras at city ingress and egress points, with an initial 12‑month subscription and automatic annual renewals at $21,000 a year. The vendor and police described the system as retaining images for 30 days, integrating with national law-enforcement databases and producing real-time alerts for vehicles on a hot list.

Chief Williamson, Lockhart Police Department, told the council the cameras would assist in identifying stolen vehicles and wanted persons:…