Kendall County commissioners voted unanimously last month to terminate the county’s contract with Flock Safety, ending a network of 57 automated license‑plate readers that spanned the county. The 5‑0 vote follows more than an hour of public comment and a presentation by Sheriff Al Auxier defending the program.
Credibility concerns drive the decision
County Judge Shane Stolarczyk framed the vote as a matter of credibility, stating, “The issue today is the credibility and trustworthiness of Flock.” The contract, valued at over $258,000 in its first year, will be wound down, with the cameras going dark 30 days after formal written notice is delivered.
Law‑enforcement officials voice disappointment
Kendall County District Attorney Nicole Bishop expressed deep disappointment, warning that the termination could have real consequences for public safety. She cited the Regent Park neighborhood in Boerne, where car burglaries had been unsolved for two years until the readers were installed. “The minute these license‑plate readers went up in that neighborhood, we didn’t have a single car break‑in again,” Bishop said.
Bishop also noted that the technology helped investigators solve an armed robbery at a local Domino’s and link it to a similar crime in San Antonio. “Without the use of that Flock license‑plate reader, we never would have been able to solve that crime, truly,” she added.
No clear replacement on the horizon
When asked what could replace the system, Bishop was blunt: “There’s no reasonable solution to it unless you put a deputy at every location, because a deputy certainly isn’t going to remember every license plate that goes by. There really isn’t a replacement for this.”
Commissioner Chapman’s perspective
Commissioner Richard Chapman, who represents Precinct 3, said he voted against the original program not because he opposes automated readers, but because he felt the county moved too quickly. “I felt that it was better to start small, get some results, and then move forward,” Chapman explained.
He added that backlash grew when cameras began appearing next to residents’ driveways without warning. “People were calling saying, ‘I don’t want this thing right beside my driveway recording every time I go in and out of my home.’ I don’t blame them,” Chapman said.
Chapman is not opposed to future use of automated readers, but any new program would need strict policies, public education, and careful placement before any device is installed.
Next steps for Boerne
The Boerne City Council is expected to discuss the Flock cameras at an upcoming meeting next week. Bishop hopes council members will seek answers from experts before making a decision.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
