Documented Incident
Central Texas Police Defend Flock ALPR Networks Amid Resident Pushback and Camera Vandalism Cases
Event: July 30, 2026 · First reported: August 11, 2026 · 1 source
Police in Bell and McLennan counties, Texas, are defending their Flock Safety automated license plate reader networks as several people face prosecution for damaging cameras. Hewitt police say they arrested 20-year-old Ryne Tanner on July 30 after a camera at Hewitt Park was vandalized; he is charged with third-degree felony electronic access interference and criminal mischief, and the charges have not been resolved in court. Officials from Temple and Hewitt say the systems capture still images rather than continuous video, do not use facial recognition, and are limited by policy to criminal investigations, excluding immigration enforcement and personal use. Some residents remain skeptical, citing the growing number of cameras across the region.
The dispute shows how agencies respond to local skepticism about ALPR expansion — through audits, demonstrations and policy assurances — while also illustrating that damaging surveillance equipment can carry felony exposure in Texas.
Key facts
- Ryne Tanner, 20, was arrested July 30 in connection with vandalism of a Flock camera at Hewitt Park and charged with third-degree felony electronic access interference and criminal mischief; the case has not been adjudicated.
- Hewitt Police Chief Jim McGrath said nearby cameras, including one near a Walmart, captured images of the suspect and vehicle that led to the arrest.
- Temple Police Lt. Gary Smith said a camera 'hit' provides an investigative lead and does not by itself establish probable cause for arrest.
- Temple police attribute crime declines to the camera network: vehicle thefts fell from 344 in 2024 to 214 in 2025 and 59 through July 2026; thefts from vehicles fell from 369 in 2024 to 210 in 2025 and 79 through July 2026. The article does not present independent verification of the causal link.
- Both departments say they run routine system audits and offer in-person demonstrations of how data is collected and protected.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Central Texans Deeply Distrust Flock Database Expansion Despite Police Privacy Promises (NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts, August 11, 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 August 12, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.