Documented Incident
Calera Police add Flock training, logging and audit requirements after misuse concerns
Event: August 24, 2026 · First reported: August 25, 2026 · 2 sources
The Calera Police Department in Shelby County, Alabama, has adopted new internal controls on its Flock Safety license plate reader system following broader privacy concerns about how officers use ALPR data. Chief David Hyche told WBRC that all department employees completed in-person Flock training in August 2026 and signed acknowledgments of department rules, and that searches now record the user's name, date and time along with a required reason and case number. Hyche said the department has begun more rigorous audits, which he reviews personally. He credited the system with helping rescue at least three children in danger and solve violent crimes, figures the department has not independently documented in the report.
Calera's changes offer an example of a department adopting audit trails and mandatory search justifications on its own initiative rather than under a local ordinance, raising the question of how durable such safeguards are without codified oversight.
Key facts
- Calera Police Chief David Hyche said all department employees completed in-person Flock training in August 2026 and signed acknowledgment of the rules.
- Searches now log the user's name, date and time, and require entry of a reason and associated case.
- Hyche said the department started more 'vigorous' audits of system use and that he personally reviews them.
- Searches in the prior 30 days involved alleged violent crimes, property crimes, vehicle thefts and sex offenses, per the department.
- The safeguards are internal department policy; the article does not indicate any city ordinance or state law requiring them.
Timeline
- August 25, 2026Calera Police put new protections in place to prevent Flock camera misuse
- September 9, 2026Calera police tighten Flock camera rules , cut data retention amid concerns over misuse
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Calera Police put new protections in place to prevent Flock camera misuse (Wbrc Fox6 News, August 25, 2026)
- Calera police tighten Flock camera rules , cut data retention amid concerns over misuse (abc3340.com, September 9, 2026)
More from Alabama
Everything we have documented in Alabama, or search every Alabama article in the archive.
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 September 10, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.