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Police chief defends expansion of Flock license-plate readers, stresses privacy safeguards
Summary
Rowlett Police Department officials told the council the Flock license-plate-reader system has aided dozens of investigations and will expand with one-time grant and FY26 general-fund money; presenters emphasized 30-day retention, audited access and limits on facial recognition.
Rowlett Police Department officials told the city council on March 16 that an expanded network of automated license-plate readers has helped solve violent crimes and property offenses while operating under departmental privacy safeguards.
Chief Moore said the department began using Flock ALPR technology in January 2023 with an initial 10 cameras, expanded to 20 in 2024, and is proposing further one-time purchases to fill coverage gaps. "We started with an investment of 10 cameras," Moore said. "We currently have 20 operable license plate reader cameras in the community." He added the department had been awarded "a little over $40,000" from a Justice Assistance Grant to help buy additional devices.
Why it matters: officials framed the expansion as a targeted investigative tool rather than continuous mass surveillance. Moore emphasized that the system turns camera images into text via…
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