Tompkins County forms working group to study Flock cameras after months of public concern
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Summary
After weeks of public comment, the Tompkins County Legislature voted to form a working group to review the county's use of Flock surveillance cameras and added related agenda items for legal and housing supports; public speakers urged immediate cancellation before a contract renewal deadline.
On March 19, 2026, the Tompkins County Legislature heard extensive public comment about Flock vehicle‑tracking cameras and voted to form a working group to study the technology, deployment and contract options.
The Legislature’s public safety chair, Travis Brooks, said the new working group will “bring voices around the table” from neighborhoods that have raised concerns and from municipalities and service providers. Brooks moved to add an item to the agenda that would authorize contingent funds for legal assistance for some residents; that motion to add the item passed on a roll call of 13 ayes.
The meeting’s public comment period featured multiple speakers who urged the county to end its relationship with Flock. Amanda Kirch Gessner, who said she was approached on Cayuga Street, told lawmakers she had been told a nearby Flock camera had been disabled. “If it had been active, there’s a real possibility that the vehicle could have been identified,” she said, and urged officials to do more to protect residents.
Other commenters pointed to a mix of privacy and operational concerns: they said vendor‑owned cloud storage and external searches create long‑term surveillance risks; they raised FOIL (FOIL/FOIA) delays and asked the county to secure an on‑the‑record legal clarification from the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services about whether removing Flock mid‑grant would jeopardize violence‑reduction funding. “It would be very helpful if the county attorney could clarify this nuance,” said Zach Quinn in his remarks.
County officials signaled they will not take a precipitous step that might jeopardize grant funding for youth employment and other programs, but emphasized urgency because of a contract‑notice deadline in late April. Brooks said the point of the working group is to ensure the county makes a decision that “is what's best for the community” after a rigorous review.
The working group is scheduled to meet in April; the Legislature directed staff to compile legal and contractual information, seek any needed clarifications from state agencies, and report findings back to the Legislature.
Next steps: the working group will review contracts and DCJS guidance, and the Legislature will consider any staff recommendations and formal resolutions the group produces. The county has not yet voted to terminate the Flock contract.
