Documented Incident
Forney, Texas Police Operate 31 Flock ALPR Cameras Under $390,100 Five-Year Contract
Event: February 1, 2022 · First reported: August 12, 2026 · 1 source
An InForney review of public records found that the Forney Police Department currently operates 31 "Flock Falcon" automated license plate readers under a five-year agreement valued at $390,100. The Forney City Council first approved 26 Flock cameras in February 2022 at a cost of $78,000, funded through salary savings from vacant police and city management positions. Department policy limits searches to official law enforcement purposes, requires case numbers, and generally deletes non-evidentiary data after 30 days, while the department retains ownership of data collected by the Flock-supplied system.
Forney's program illustrates how a modest initial camera purchase can expand into a larger, networked surveillance contract, and raises questions other communities face about whether written policies are matched by audits, search-log transparency, and public reporting of misuse.
Key facts
- Forney City Council approved 26 Flock cameras in February 2022 for $78,000, paid for with salary savings from vacant positions.
- The current agreement covers 31 Flock Falcon readers at a total contract value of $390,100 over five years.
- Forney's dispatch manual states Flock may not be used for personal use or curiosity for any reason; searches require case numbers and non-evidentiary data is generally deleted after 30 days.
- The Institute for Justice has reported at least 14 documented U.S. cases in recent years in which officers allegedly used ALPR systems to monitor partners or others of personal interest; a former North Carolina officer was recently arrested on such allegations, which have not been adjudicated.
- The article cites recent court rulings, including Schmidt v. City of Norfolk and United States v. Porter, upholding fixed ALPR use, alongside a Supreme Court geofence ruling defense attorneys are invoking to challenge broad ALPR networks.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Are Forney Police’s FLOCK Cameras a Threat to Privacy? Or a Powerful Crimefighting Tool? (Inforney News, August 12, 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 13, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.