Virginia county crews dismantle 120 surveillance cameras after vendor fails to act

Residents of Henrico County, Virginia, woke up on Saturday to find crews on the streets pulling down surveillance equipment. More than 120 Flock cameras were detached from their poles during the weekend work. The physical removal changes the daily view for drivers and pedestrians who had grown accustomed to the small black boxes mounted on streetlights.

The county took direct action after the technology provider failed to meet a specific deadline. Flock was contractually obligated to remove the hardware within two weeks of the agreement ending. That window closed without the cameras coming down, leaving the poles standing. County Manager John Vithoulkas confirmed that local staff handled the teardown because the vendor did not fulfill its removal duties.

Henrico County ended its reliance on Flock automatic license plate readers in October. The decision followed months of discussion among police leaders, residents, and privacy experts. While officials noted the technology had operational benefits, questions about data access and privacy weighed heavily. The county characterized the exit as a preventative measure, stating there was no evidence that Henrico police had misused the system.

Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, chairman of the Henrico Board of Supervisors, framed the timing as a strategic choice. He told reporters the board was aware of national and state level debates surrounding the technology. Cooper stated, "Rather be proactive than reactive. And we’re aware of the conversations that are occurring nationally, as well as on the state level. And we just, again, felt that this was the right time to make this decision."

The county announced the split from Flock on social media in early October. Police cut ties with the vendor by mid October following those consultations. The removal process is now complete for the cameras, though the supporting poles remain in place. Those structures are technically the responsibility of Flock to take down, a task that has not yet occurred.