Richmond mayor orders Flock ALPR data retention cut from 21 days to 7, pledges contract review

First reported: September 20, 2026 · 3 sources

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced he is directing the Richmond Police Department to immediately shorten retention of automated license plate reader data from 21 days to 7 days. Avula said the city will also review its relationship with Flock Safety, explore other vendors before the current contract expires next year, gather resident feedback, and examine oversight and transparency policies, including possible independent third-party review. He said he considers ALPR technology a useful investigative tool while acknowledging privacy concerns and the risk that communities of color are over-surveilled. State Delegate Charlie Schmidt called for Richmond to cancel its Flock contract entirely and said he would back statewide ban legislation introduced by State Sen. Lashrecse Aird.

Why this matters

Retention limits are one of the few concrete levers local officials control over ALPR systems, and Richmond's move offers a template for cities weighing reform against cancellation. The accompanying push for a statewide ban would shift the decision from individual localities to the General Assembly.

Key facts

Avula directed RPD to cut ALPR data retention from 21 days to 7 days, effective immediately.
The mayor outlined four commitments: shorter retention, a vendor review before the contract expires next year, resident feedback sessions, and a review of oversight and transparency policies.
Avula said he believes ALPR technology is useful for solving crimes but that real privacy concerns exist and people of color can be over-surveilled.
Delegate Charlie Schmidt said at least 20 Virginia localities have canceled Flock contracts or banned the technology, and urged Richmond to do the same.
Schmidt said he intends to support statewide ban legislation introduced by Sen. Lashrecse Aird; that bill has not been enacted.

Sources

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

Richmond Police will cut Flock camera data retention from 21 to 7 days, Mayor Danny Avula says (WTVR.com, September 20, 2026)
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced the city will ‘reevaluate its relationship with Flock’ (WRIC ABC 8News, September 19, 2026)
Avula calls for review of Flock Safety contract in Instagram video – VPM (Social Network Release, September 21, 2026)

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Updated September 23, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.