Arkansas Law Enforcement Agencies Clash Over Flock Safety Cameras

Law enforcement agencies in Arkansas are taking divergent paths regarding the use of Flock Safety automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. In Siloam Springs, Interim Police Chief Derek Spicer defended the technology before the city's Board of Directors, reporting that the department has operated 12 cameras since early 2025 at a cost of $57,000. Spicer highlighted the system's utility in criminal investigations and missing persons searches, specifically citing the recovery of two juveniles during the April Dogwood Festival.

While Siloam Springs continues its program, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office has immediately paused its use of ALPR cameras. Sheriff Robert Page announced the suspension in response to resident privacy concerns, noting that while the tools are valuable for apprehending fugitives, their use must maintain public confidence. Page is establishing a review committee of local officials and community leaders to evaluate the program's costs, data access, and privacy safeguards.

The debate in Siloam Springs mirrored the tensions in Montgomery County, with residents citing a misidentification lawsuit in Ohio and the discontinuation of a similar system in Pea Ridge as reasons for alarm. Spicer countered these concerns by stating that department policy prohibits Flock Safety from accessing police camera data. The Siloam Springs board has not discussed ending the program, even as Montgomery County joins several nearby jurisdictions in suspending the technology.