Documented Incident
Amelia County Sheriff's Office ends Flock ALPR contract, citing public privacy concerns
Event: October 15, 2026 · First reported: October 15, 2026 · 7 sources
The Amelia County Sheriff's Office in Virginia announced it is terminating its contract with Flock Safety and ending use of the company's automated license plate recognition cameras effective immediately, according to WWBT. The sheriff's office said the technology had been effective and that it was aware of no instances of improper use by its employees, but that public concerns about data access, retention, and privacy outweighed the benefits. The cameras will remain physically in place until Flock personnel remove them but will not record data in the meantime.
The decision shows an agency ending an ALPR program over community concerns about data handling rather than over any identified misuse, a rationale other localities weighing Flock contracts may encounter.
Key facts
- The Amelia County Sheriff's Office said its contract with Flock Safety ended Thursday, Oct. 15, effective immediately.
- The sheriff's office described the cameras as a highly effective tool and said there were no instances of improper use by its employees.
- The office attributed the decision to public concerns over data access, retention, and privacy.
- Cameras will stay mounted until Flock removes them but will not be recording, per the sheriff's office.
Timeline
- October 15, 2026Amelia Sheriff’s Office ditches Flock ‘effective immediately’
- October 15, 2026Amelia Sheriff’s Office ditches Flock ‘effective immediately’
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Amelia Sheriff’s Office ditches Flock ‘effective immediately’ (WWBT, October 15, 2026)
- Nelson County Sheriff’s Office discontinues use of Flock cameras (Https://www.29news.com, October 14, 2026)
- Nelson County discontinues use of Flock cameras, effective immediately (WSET, October 14, 2026)
- Nelson County Sheriff’s Office to discontinue use of Flock Camera usage effective immediately (WSLS, October 14, 2026)
- Nelson County discontinues use of Flock cameras, effective immediately (WSET, October 14, 2026)
- Nelson County Sheriff’s Office discontinues use of Flock cameras (Https://www.wdbj7.com, October 14, 2026)
- Amelia Sheriff’s Office ditches Flock ‘effective immediately’ (WWBT, October 15, 2026)
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About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated October 16, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.