09/26/2026
Last week, Brazos County Sheriff Wayne Dicky provided valuable insight into what Flock camera systems can and cannot do.
We support the responsible and ethical use of technology to help keep our communities safe and assist law enforcement in solving crimes.
𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲!
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟’𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲
The use of license plate reader technology is a hot topic on social media and in news reports. Opinions and stories expressed generally land somewhere along a spectrum between supporting technology that serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies working to fight crime and find missing people, to the belief that the system is an intrusion on individual privacy that is unacceptable regardless of benefits. I have heard compelling arguments for both positions. I have heard your concerns, and I take them very seriously. Unfortunately, much of the information being shared about the system’s capabilities and use is incomplete or inaccurate. As my neighbors in this community, you deserve reliable information as you develop your position on the use of this technology.
The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office is one of many law enforcement agencies across the country that use Flock LPR technology. Flock is a network of cameras that capture images of license plates and other vehicle characteristics as they pass by a fixed location in public view. These images can be searched to aid in law enforcement investigations. Think of the system as a filing cabinet. Cameras take pictures of license plates; the image is converted to searchable text and then filed. There is no one actively looking at the images as they are captured. If law enforcement receives a report of a crime or missing person, they can search the filling cabinet using vehicle information from the current investigation. If a vehicle related to that case has passed a camera location, the search will provide still images with the location and time they were taken. Investigators can use this information in coordination with other evidence and systems to investigate the crime or search for the person. In the absence of a legitimate law enforcement reason to save the information as part of an investigation, the images and data captured are only retained for 30 days and then are no longer available. Our purpose is to protect the lives and property of the people in this community and to reduce crime.
Law enforcement officers can also enter vehicle license plates into a “hot list” that will alert if the vehicle image is captured as it passes a camera location. In this scenario, the license plate number of a stolen vehicle can be placed on a “hot list” and the system will send a notification if the vehicle is captured on camera.
This technology improves efficiency and acts as a force multiplier. Most people in our community would be happy to have an officer assigned to their neighborhood or more deputies available to answer calls. We can’t place a deputy in every neighborhood, but technology can help extend our reach. For example, if we receive a report of a hit-and-run crash, the responding deputy goes to the scene, collects the information about the vehicle that fled and passes it along by radio to other deputies in our community. Those deputies in turn would be on the lookout for that vehicle. The more deputies who are aware, the more likely we are to locate the vehicle. Flock technology helps extend the reach of our deputies by providing alerts if the vehicle is detected at a location, giving deputies additional opportunities to locate the vehicle and assist with an investigation.
Locally, this technology has already assisted law enforcement in significant cases. Flock information has helped investigators apprehend suspects in homicide investigations and has assisted in locating individuals who were reported missing, including people experiencing medical conditions where quickly finding them was especially important.
Flock is not a replacement for good police work. It is one tool among many that deputies and investigators can use when responding to calls, investigating crimes, and working to keep people safe. Contrary to many social media posts, it does not track where a vehicle goes before or after it passes a camera. It does not use facial recognition technology. It does not measure speed, identify traffic offenses, or issue citations.
I am aware that, in recent months, there have been multiple incidents of misuse of the system. Misuse includes any use other than a legitimate law enforcement purpose. This is unacceptable. While social media posts and news accounts of misuse are discouraging and highlight the need for audits and strict accountability, they also demonstrate that law enforcement leaders are holding personnel accountable when they use the system for illegitimate purposes. The stories that have been shared include statements that the officers involved have been disciplined and often charged with a crime. This reflects a profession-wide commitment to holding officers accountable.
We share that commitment. The Brazos County Sheriff's Office has policies and procedures in place to prohibit misuse. Access is restricted to authorized employees. Any search of the data requires the user to designate the law enforcement purpose for the search and to enter a case number that identifies the related case. The system includes an audit tool that alerts supervisors to any suspicious search patterns. Our personnel will be held accountable for violations of these policies and procedures.
I understand why some have called for banning or removing this technology. I believe the better solution is strong practices that discourage misuse and hold people accountable when they violate them. Throughout my career, I’ve seen law enforcement practices and technology continue to evolve. I’ve also seen how new tools and innovations can help us better serve and protect our community. The use of fingerprint and DNA evidence has become commonplace and practical in identifying suspects in criminal cases. Body-worn cameras are now a normal part of the law enforcement uniform. These innovations have improved how we serve our community, made our community safer, and improved accountability. Each of these innovations initially faced challenges, elicited debate, and was refined in many ways before they were adopted and embraced. That is where we find ourselves today. Technology continues to give law enforcement new tools to help protect the communities we serve. Flock technology is one of those tools. Like any technology used by law enforcement, it deserves thoughtful discussion, responsible use, and appropriate safeguards.
The purpose of sharing my thoughts with you is to provide factual information about how the system is used and the responsibility I have to protect your privacy. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for caring about our community. Additional information is available on the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office website. If you have questions, please reach out.
Respectfully,
Wayne Dicky
Sheriff, Brazos County
