Documented Incident
Prince Edward County, Va. sheriff discontinues Flock cameras a week after Goochland
First reported: September 5, 2026 · 6 sources
The Prince Edward County Sheriff's Office in Virginia has ended its use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers, roughly a week after the Goochland County Sheriff's Office announced a similar decision, according to WRIC. Other Virginia agencies are keeping the technology: the Hanover County Sheriff's Office said it has no plans to suspend use, describing ALPRs as an invaluable investigative tool. University of Richmond associate professor Tom Mattson, who studies data privacy and security, said he expects more communities to cancel contracts or let them lapse as national reports of misuse erode public trust. The report also noted that some Virginia state legislators have proposed banning Flock systems, a proposal that has not been enacted.
Two neighboring Virginia sheriff's offices dropping the same surveillance vendor within a week — while others publicly recommit to it — shows how local ALPR decisions are being made agency by agency, absent a uniform state standard.
Key facts
- Prince Edward County Sheriff's Office discontinued its Flock Safety ALPR use, following Goochland County about a week earlier.
- Hanover County Sheriff's Office said it will continue using the cameras and called the technology valuable for investigations.
- Hanover Sgt. Steve Wills said misuse of ALPR data is prohibited and can be a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia law, plus internal discipline up to termination.
- Some Virginia legislators have proposed an outright ban on Flock systems; no such ban is reported as law.
- Professor Tom Mattson suggested a non-governmental watchdog group as a possible oversight mechanism.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Prince Edward Sheriff ends Flock camera use as more communities weigh public safety against privacy (FOX8 WGHP, September 5, 2026)
- Prince Edward Sheriff ends Flock camera use as more communities weigh public safety against privacy (WRIC ABC 8News, September 5, 2026)
- Prince Edward County ends use of flock cameras (WWBT, September 4, 2026)
- Prince Edward Sheriff ends Flock camera use as more communities weigh public safety against privacy (WRIC ABC 8News, September 5, 2026)
- Prince Edward Sheriff ends Flock Safety camera use, cites privacy concerns (WRIC ABC 8News, September 4, 2026)
- Prince Edward Sheriff ends Flock camera use as more communities weigh public safety against privacy (FOX8 WGHP, September 5, 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 September 8, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.