Fort Smith police cut Flock data retention to 7 days, end outside agency access

First reported: August 27, 2026 · 8 sources

Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker ordered changes to the department's automated license plate reader policies after community concerns, the department announced in a news release. Retention of license plate reader data drops from 30 days to seven, and permissions allowing outside agencies to search Fort Smith's ALPR data have been disabled. Searches are now limited to felony investigations, domestic battery cases within 12 hours, and missing-person reports. The city's internal auditor is reviewing the department's Flock use, and the department has told Flock it will evaluate whether to renew its contract, which runs through Nov. 30, 2027.

Why this matters

Fort Smith's changes show a department narrowing retention, use cases, and external data sharing while an internal audit and public review are still pending — a sequence other cities weighing ALPR contracts may look to.

Key facts

Retention period reduced from 30 days to seven days; all non-Fort Smith agency search permissions disabled.
Searches restricted to felony-level investigations, domestic battery within 12 hours, and missing-person cases.
Current Flock contract runs through Nov. 30, 2027; any renewal decision is to follow public review by the Fort Smith Board of Directors after the city audit.
The department cited ALPR use in cases including a felony child sexual abuse materials warrant arrest in March, break-in arrests in May, and identification of a suspect in the 2023 killing of Chanell Moore using Barling's Flock system.
In nearby Greenwood, residents raised concerns at an Aug. 11 City Council study session; no action was taken. Greenwood has had Flock cameras since October 2022, plus five grant-funded cameras near schools.

Timeline

August 27, 2026Fort Smith police put new limits into effect on Flock camera data retention, access
August 28, 2026Fort Smith police tighten limits on Flock license plate readers
August 28, 2026Fort Smith police tighten limits on Flock license plate readers

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

Fort Smith police put new limits into effect on Flock camera data retention, access (River Valley Democrat-Gazette, August 27, 2026)
Fort Smith police tighten limits on Flock license plate readers (Southwest Times Record, August 28, 2026)
Fort Smith police announces new limits on Flock camera use (KNWA FOX24, August 27, 2026)
Fort Smith police announce new limits on use of Flock cams (4029tv.com, August 27, 2026)
Fort Smith police announces new limits on Flock camera use (AOL.com, August 28, 2026)
Fort Smith police announces new limits on Flock camera use (KNWA FOX24, August 27, 2026)
Fort Smith police tighten limits on Flock license plate readers (Southwest Times Record, August 28, 2026)
Fort Smith police announces new limits on Flock camera use (Yahoo, August 27, 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 30, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.