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Council approves Flock Safety license-plate reader purchase; police and residents debate privacy and placement
Summary
The council authorized a two-year contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers totaling $488,250. Police and vendor representatives said the system supports investigations and will retain data for 30 days; some public commenters and council members raised Fourth Amendment and equity concerns.
The Killeen City Council authorized a professional services agreement for automated license-plate reader technology from Flock Safety on March 4, approving a two-year contract totaling $488,250 as part of the consent agenda (vote 7-0).
Chief of Police Rafael Lopez presented the item and said the system is intended to bolster the department’s real-time crime center and support investigations into vehicle-related crime, including catalytic converter thefts. The procurement was tied to an existing grant application: "In November 2024, the Killeen Police Department submitted an application for Senate Bill 244 catalytic converter grant to the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority," Chief Lopez said.
Chief Lopez described how the system works and addressed privacy concerns: "Flock Safety does not collect personal data such as names, phone numbers or addresses nor does it track specific locations of individuals.…
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