Ord bans Flock cameras, Valley County votes to keep them

14 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

A dispute over automated license plate reader cameras in Valley County, Nebraska came to a head in August 2026 when the county supervisors voted to continue operating nine Flock Safety cameras despite calls for their removal. The Ord City Council had previously voted to ban the cameras from within city limits, creating a jurisdictional conflict. The decision followed a public hearing held on August 24 at the Valley County Courthouse in Ord, which drew substantial public attendance voicing concerns about mass surveillance and data sharing practices [verify: attendance figures and specific surveillance concerns raised].

The Valley County Sheriff's Office operates the Flock network, which includes cameras positioned at locations such as the intersection of 14th Street and State Highway 11 in Ord. Residents had specifically requested that the county end its contract with Flock Safety and remove all nine cameras from the county. The supervisors' decision to maintain the system despite this organized opposition marks a divergence between city and county policy on the technology.

The clash highlights the jurisdictional complications that arise when multiple governmental bodies operate within the same geography but reach different conclusions on ALPR deployment. Residents and local officials seeking to track camera locations, contract terms, and operational authority can request records from both Ord city government and Valley County through public records requests. Communities considering their own policies on ALPR technology can monitor renewal dates and county board agendas to understand the decision-making timeline that led to this outcome.

Read the original reporting: Omaha World-Herald.