Wylie city council votes to end Flock camera contract
By ยท Updated 2 Sep 2026
27 August 2026.
Wylie City Council voted unanimously on August 26, 2026, to end its automatic contract renewal with Flock Safety, the automated license plate reader company. The 7-0 vote came after nearly two hours of discussion and leaves open the possibility of negotiating a new contract in the future.
The city had operated six Flock cameras since August 2024 at an annual cost of approximately $27,000. Mayor Matthew Porter stated his concerns centered not on the Wylie Police Department's use of the technology, but on data management practices. Porter expressed worry about how Flock stores and shares collected information, citing documented misuse by other law enforcement agencies and partner departments within Texas.
Assistant Police Chief Tommy Walters acknowledged the cameras' value in solving crimes while noting the department had implemented internal safeguards to prevent misuse. At least one camera was recently vandalized, consistent with national trends.
Resident Austin Gregory, founder of advocacy group DeFlock Wylie, gathered more than 700 petition signatures opposing the cameras. Gregory emphasized that once data leaves Wylie's control, residents have no oversight of how other agencies use it, particularly through reciprocal data-sharing agreements.
The council specifically requested clearer disclosure requirements for search logs, documenting who conducted searches, when they occurred, and which officer was involved. Porter also cited concerns about being contractually locked into an agreement that could become obsolete as future regulations evolve.
According to the reporting, at least 100 cities nationwide have deactivated cameras or canceled contracts, even as over 120,000 Flock devices operate across every state except Alaska.
Readers can check whether their city council has discussed ALPR contracts or established data-sharing agreements with Flock or other vendors.
Read the original reporting: KERA News.
Related record: Austin, Texas in the jurisdictions directory.