HOUSTON — Two Flock license plate reader cameras were found vandalized in Houston on July 4, 2026, at Washington Avenue and Westcott. The cameras were cut in half and spray-painted, with one of the vandalized units having an American flag painted on it. The Houston Police Department is investigating the incident after being notified on the morning of July 4, though the department stated it could not identify who was responsible for these specific vandalized cameras.

Juan Rodriguez, a business owner whose company SPAR Houston is located near the vandalism site, commented on the incident. "I didn't realize that the cameras were there until you actually pointed that out," Rodriguez said. He suggested the act might be a protest. "It would be somebody just protesting," Rodriguez said. "Their rights are being violated or something like that."

Flock Safety issued a statement regarding the vandalism, saying, "Damaging public safety equipment is illegal and puts the community at risk, which is why we strongly condemn this type of behavior." The company also stated that they receive few reports of vandalism overall. Flock cameras have been in use in the City of Houston since 2021, according to the company. Harris County commissioners voted to renew the county's contract for Flock cameras a few months before July 2026. This renewed contract, costing just under $869,000, is set to run until June 2027.

Flock cameras are designed to read license plates and alert police if those plates are linked to crimes. Some of these cameras are installed under city contracts, while others are installed by neighborhoods or private groups that share recorded footage with law enforcement agencies.