Knox County May Ban Flock Safety Surveillance Cameras

The Knox County Commission is considering a vote on August 31 to ban the use of license plate reader cameras operated by the Knox County Sheriff's Office through Flock Safety. The move follows an August 24 meeting where officials reviewed the balance between public safety and privacy protections for the network of 143 operational cameras.

Mayor Glenn Jacobs challenged the validity of the agreements, asserting that a 2020 contract is invalid because expenditures reached $274,720, exceeding the $100,000 threshold that requires commission approval. Jacobs further alleged that the sheriff's office bypassed oversight by using a cooperative purchasing agreement and a state grant to lease additional cameras. He opposes the technology as a violation of personal freedoms.

The situation is complicated by the retirement and indictment of Aaron Yarnell, the former head of technology for the sheriff's office, on corruption charges. During the commission meeting, sheriff's office officials were unable to provide specific contract details or data policies. While Flock Safety has reduced its data retention period from 30 days to seven days and defends the tools as vital for crime-fighting, Commissioner Kim Frazier demanded the cameras be deactivated immediately due to the lack of an active agreement.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office has paused new installations, but the existing network remains active pending the commission's decision.