Covington, WA – Police Chief Adam Easterbrook told the community on August 28 that the majority of the city’s eight Flock Safety license‑plate cameras have been damaged or destroyed over the last two months. The vandalism appears to be part of a broader social‑media campaign encouraging citizens to disable the surveillance devices, which officials say are intended to aid law enforcement while protecting privacy.
Vandalism and Arrests
“There is a large social media campaign to damage or destroy the cameras,” Easterbrook said in an email to city officials. “They are advocating people destroy the cameras to prevent surveillance and misuse by the government.” The police department has already arrested a group of juveniles suspected of damaging one of the cameras. The chief indicated that charges are being held pending repair cost estimates, as the offense may be a misdemeanor rather than a felony.
In another case, vandals posted video of themselves breaking a camera on social media. That lead is still under investigation, Easterbrook added.
National Trend of Camera Vandalism
Covington is not alone. A recent Forbes article noted similar incidents in Dallas, Texas, where at least 25 of the 650 Flock cameras have been vandalized, as well as reports from Detroit, Michigan and Savannah, Georgia. Some states have pursued felony charges for camera damage because of the high cost of the equipment.
Company Response and Auditing Tools
Flock Safety, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has introduced new auditing tools designed to flag potential misuse. The system alerts administrators when the same search is run repeatedly over a short period or over an extended time, helping to prevent unauthorized tracking. Misuse by police officers is classified as a gross misdemeanor in Washington state, a provision added by the state legislature.
Impact on Crime Solving
Despite the vandalism, Chief Easterbrook emphasized the cameras’ role in solving crimes. “The benefits of the camera for law enforcement are they add another tool to provide evidence and alert us to stolen cars when they go through our cameras,” he said.
One notable case involved a robbery and shooting at a BECU ATM. The camera captured an image of the getaway vehicle, which lacked a visible license plate. By comparing damage to the car with footage from a neighboring Kent camera, investigators were able to identify the plate and generate a valuable lead. The King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit then used traditional detective work to locate and arrest the suspects.
Crime Statistics Since Camera Installation
Since the Flock system was installed in 2024, Covington has seen a steady decline in several crime categories. Auto theft incidents fell from 125 in 2023 to 99 in 2024, 55 in 2025, and just 19 through July 2026. Burglaries dropped from 112 in 2023 to 57 in 2024, 52 in 2025, and 17 through July 2026. Robberies decreased from 22 in 2023 to 13 in 2024, 7 in 2025, and only 2 through July 2026.
“Crime rates have a lot of factors that feed into them, but it does seem Flock has had a part to play in the reduction we have seen in the last couple of years,” Easterbrook said.
Local Government Stance
The Covington City Council oversees the camera contract and continues to operate the system at its direction. While the Renton City Council has paused its own use of Flock cameras, Covington officials remain committed to the technology, citing its evidentiary value and the recent drop in property crimes.
Civil‑liberties groups and privacy advocates continue to argue that license‑plate cameras infringe on fundamental rights, but city leaders maintain that the benefits to public safety outweigh those concerns.
Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.
