Richmond will not renew Flock license plate reader contract, mayor says

RICHMOND, Va. — The City of Richmond will not renew its contract with Flock when the agreement comes up for renewal, according to an announcement from Mayor Danny Avula.

Richmond's current Flock contract is set to run until July 2027, according to the mayor's spokesperson.

The city's website states there are 99 automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, around Richmond with another two that can be moved around.

In a message to residents, Avula said the decision follows a commitment made last month to gather community feedback and carefully evaluate the city's use the technology.

Avula said neighboring Henrico County's decision to end its contract with Flock also played a role in his decision.

Henrico officials said they would not have to pay a financial penalty for ending the contract early as it was written into their agreement.

The move comes after the Goochland County Sheriff office announced in September that it was cutting ties with Flock citing privacy concerns and an "evolving legal landscape" surrounding the cameras.

CBS 6 asked the mayor's office why the city is not ending its contract early, rather than have the technology for another eight months, and were told Avula would answer that and other questions on Tuesday when he attends the Richmond Police Department's quarterly crime briefing.

Watch previous: Henrico cancels Flock camera contract, citing privacy concerns

"Now that Henrico has decided to end their contract with Flock, it clarifies the picture for me because Flock specifically is now less useful as a tool," Avula said. "Crime doesn't stop and start at the city-county line, and part of what makes this technology a useful crime-solving tool is our ability to work together with our regional partners."

He added that he is encouraged to see other localities weighing the issue as well.

"I'm encouraged to see that the region is joining us in grappling with this issue, an issue that is clearly so important to so many residents," Avula said.

Saturday afternoon, Richmond residents like Kelsely Waugh weighed in on the the mayor's decision, calling the use of the surveillance technology an invasion of privacy by law enforcement to innocent civilians.

"It’s an invasion. It’s something that we as a majority didn’t want and it happened anyway and so it has no business being in the city especially when it’s being used in a predatory way," Waugh said.

But residents like Tatta Banks believes Flock cameras are keeping the city safe and giving law enforcement the tools to solve crimes faster.

"I don't like it," Banks said. "Someone stole a friend of mines car and in a quick second, they got on him, they saw him get on the highway using those cameras and got him quick."

As Richmond ends its contract with Flock, other neighboring localities are sticking either the surveillance technology like Hanover County which put out announced earlier this week that it has no plans to to make any changes to its use of the cameras saying it will continue to evaluate the technology and its effectiveness as a law enforcement tool.

Chesterfield County Police came under fire earlier this month after it announced that an employee of the department was put on administrative leave after coworkers uncovered suspicious transactions using the technology. Since the announcement the CCPD said it would be reconnect a review over the next 30 days and make appropriate improvements however it did not say whether changes were coming to its contracts with flock.

Back in Richmond residents like James Sygnor says he has mixed feelings about the Mayor Avula's decision saying that residents have to wait and how the end of flock might affect the city.

"I think that the technology is good if it’s helping the community and if they’re using the technology other than something other than helping the community, that’s where the neutral comes in. I don’t think that the technology is good if it’s not being used for the greater good of the community," Sygnor said.

While the city has decided not to renew its agreement with Flock, officials said the broader conversation about the use of ALPR technology is ongoing.

“The commitment I made to you all last month was to listen well and make a full, community-informed decision about the City’s use of ALPR technology,” Avula said in the post. “So, while I’ve made a decision about the Flock contract, we have more work to do to ensure we’ve heard from residents who care deeply about this issue.”

"I think that’s great. It’s a good move, it proves thatches listening, but it doesn’t mean that our job as citizens are done," Waugh said.

"If that’s what he wants to do we’ll try it and see. But guess what? They’ll be back. Flock cameras will be back," Banks said.

"If they feel like it’s a good decision to cancel it, then they need to solve crimes the way that they used to solve crimes," Sygnor said.

This is a developing story, so check back with WTVR.com for updates. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have info, photos or videos to share.