DeSoto officials have opened a dedicated transparency portal that lets the public examine how the city’s police department employs Flock Safety license‑plate reader (ALPR) cameras, according to Texas Metro News. The portal arrives after years of using the technology without a centralized public‑access site.
Police Chief Joe Costa told the City Council in February 2025 that DeSoto had been operating Flock cameras for five or six years and was expanding the “cadre” of cameras each year. At that meeting, the council approved funding for the annual subscription for the five city‑owned cameras.
Costa also explained that homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and other private locations in DeSoto have installed their own Flock cameras. He said these privately owned units are “spreading throughout the community” and that, when an HOA grants police access, officers can retrieve vehicle data from those cameras during investigations. This means the total number of Flock cameras whose data police can access may exceed the five city‑owned units.
During a public‑safety town hall on July 9, 2024, Costa encouraged HOAs to place Flock cameras at neighborhood entrances, emphasizing that shared access would help investigators track vehicle movements across multiple sites. He noted that the system can reveal where a vehicle was detected at different times and locations, raising privacy questions that the new portal aims to address.
In a May 5, 2026 City Council meeting, Costa presented a proposal—contingent on grant funding—to add roughly 30 more Flock cameras citywide. The planned coverage would include major corridors such as Belt Line Road and Pleasant Run Road, as well as city entrances and exits. Council members asked about data‑sharing practices, retention periods, and safeguards against unauthorized use.
The transparency portal now allows residents to see which agencies receive externally shared information, the city’s data‑retention policy, and a public search audit covering the previous 30 days. Texas Metro News points out that neighboring North Texas cities, such as Midlothian and Frisco, have operated similar portals for years, providing details on camera counts, audit procedures, and query justifications.
Critics have highlighted that a recent hack of a Flock camera revealed it stored “millions of images” beyond license‑plate numbers, including people, bicycles, and bumper stickers. While the incident was reported by NewRepublic.com, Texas Metro News notes that the findings underscore the importance of clear oversight and public visibility of how the data are used.
City officials stress that access to Flock camera data is limited to authorized personnel, requires training, and is subject to auditing and supervisory oversight. They also assert the technology is not intended for general surveillance, personal use, political purposes, immigration enforcement, or other unauthorized purposes.
What’s next: DeSoto residents are encouraged to review the new portal and attend upcoming City Council meetings where the 30‑camera expansion proposal will be discussed, pending grant approval. The police department plans to present an updated Flock camera briefing to the public in the coming weeks, offering further details on usage policies and oversight mechanisms.
Sources: texasmetronews.com
