Sherman City Council Votes to Remove Flock ALPR Cameras

The Sherman City Council voted 7-0 on Monday night to remove 11 automated license plate reader cameras provided by Flock Group Inc. and non-renew its contract with the company. The resolution takes effect immediately, although the physical removal of the hardware will occur over time.

Mayor Shawn Teamann stated the unanimous decision resulted from public outcry regarding privacy and potential constitutional issues. He clarified that the vote does not reflect a lack of trust in the police department and does not impact cameras operated by county or state agencies within city limits.

Councilmember Clay Barnett expressed regret over removing a tool from the police department's resources but cited concerns regarding the security of data once it leaves city control. To prevent similar issues in the future, the council now requires any city department seeking to install new automated license plate readers to hold a public hearing.