Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux announced that the department will deactivate 321 of its Flock license‑plate reader cameras after the state grant that funded them expired on Tuesday. The cameras will remain active for ten business days, meaning they are expected to continue operating through September 25.
Funding pause and city response
The deactivated units represent roughly half of the more than 600 Flock cameras currently deployed by Dallas police. The state‑funded portion was provided under a grant ordered by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who last month directed state agencies to pause funding for the technology. With the grant now expired, Dallas officials are seeking alternative financing to keep the 321 cameras operational.
City Council recently voted against ending the city’s $1.5 million contract with Flock, and more than 300 city‑funded cameras are expected to stay online. “With fewer cameras it’s less pinpointing,” Chief Comeaux told WFAA, noting that reduced coverage could make it harder for officers to track vehicles involved in investigations.
Chief’s outlook on the technology
Comeaux expressed confidence that the funding pause is temporary. “My gut feeling is that it will come back,” he said, citing support from law‑enforcement officials who view the system as a valuable investigative tool.
DPD spokesperson Allison Hudson defended the cameras, explaining that they are used in investigations of homicides, robberies, assaults and motor‑vehicle crimes. “The proof is in the stats as our primary investigative tool,” Hudson said, adding that the cameras helped solve 13 murders in Dallas so far in 2026 and were involved in 13 % of business robbery cases.
Privacy safeguards and limited data sharing
Privacy advocates have raised concerns that the technology captures information on large numbers of drivers who are not suspected of wrongdoing. Comeaux acknowledged the risk of misuse but said the department has safeguards in place. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that no one will ever misuse the Flock system, but if they do, they’ll have to come see me and they’ll pay a penalty,” he told WFAA.
Flock is developing proactive auditing tools to flag unusual search patterns, and Dallas police will now share camera data only with Texas law‑enforcement agencies rather than the broader network of agencies that previously had access. Searches are subject to strict restrictions and disciplinary consequences for any unauthorized use.
Other North Texas communities’ approaches
While Dallas evaluates its funding options, neighboring municipalities have taken different paths. Wylie and Pflugerville have terminated their Flock contracts, and Hood County previously voted to remove its cameras.
Broader public‑safety updates
Comeaux also highlighted improvements in Dallas’ emergency‑response times, noting the department is nearing its goal of answering the most urgent 911 calls within eight minutes. He credited recent staffing changes, the use of drone‑as‑first‑responder technology, and giving supervisors greater ability to monitor officers and redeploy them as needed.
Crime statistics show violent crime down nearly 9 % compared with the same period last year, though homicides have risen about 3 %. Comeaux cautioned that month‑to‑month fluctuations can affect the numbers but affirmed that the department remains on track for another year of overall crime reductions.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
