Flock Safety is promoting its crime clearance statistics to counter growing criticism of its surveillance cameras, which are deployed in 49 states. Phil Arnold, the company's public affairs manager and a retired law enforcement officer, defended the technology to Fox News Digital, stating it aids in solving hit-and-run accidents, stolen vehicle cases, and crimes against people. Arnold, who served as a police executive in Shorewood, Illinois, for 27 years, described the automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology as revolutionary for narrowing searches to specific geographic locations rather than stopping vehicles based solely on description.
The company provided internal data comparing cities that use Flock cameras with those that do not. In Tennessee, Hendersonville, a Flock-equipped city, cleared 40% of motor vehicle thefts in the first half of 2026, while nearby Nashville cleared only 7%. Aggravated assault clearance rates were 95% in Hendersonville versus 41% in Nashville. Flock highlighted Eugene, Oregon, as a key example, noting that after cameras were removed in October 2025, motor-vehicle-theft clearance fell from 15% to 9%, while nearby Medford, which retained the system, cleared 29% of such cases.
Chad Marlow, a senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), disputed the causal link between the cameras and higher solve rates. He argued that differences in city size, poverty rates, and police department philosophies confound the comparison. Marlow stated that Flock's recent push for regulation is a strategic move to save its business amid backlash rather than a sudden ethical awakening. He noted that the company recently shortened its standard data retention period to 30 days to improve its public image.
Privacy concerns have led to legal challenges against the technology. A federal judge in Oklahoma ruled that a police deputy violated the Fourth Amendment by using Flock data to access a woman's driving history for a month and then pulling her over. Although she was in possession of 91 pounds of methamphetamine, the court found the warrantless access unconstitutional. A Washington Post analysis identified at least 50 cases of officers abusing ALPR tools for purposes outside law enforcement scope, including stalking ex-lovers.
Arnold addressed privacy misconceptions by clarifying that the cameras capture only the rear of vehicles and license plates, not drivers or passengers. He stated that data access requires a Computer Aided Dispatch report or case number and is retained for 30 days. Despite the controversy, Arnold said Flock CEO Garrett Langley has called on legislators to pass laws regulating the technology to prevent misuse. Arnold described the tool as a force multiplier for under-staffed police departments.