HOUSTON — Harris County approved a one-year, $868,000 contract renewal with Flock Safety on June 6, 2026, just days before the prior agreement was set to expire. The renewed contract will run through June 2027 and funds the use of automated license plate recognition cameras administered by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

The vote followed debate among commissioners, with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo abstaining from the final 4-0 vote. "If we are really open to accountability, then we would not be trying to ram this through," Hidalgo said. She added, "Y’all are playing games here, clearly, all of a sudden you’re for it."

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Anthony McConnell cited recent successes, saying, "Just this week, we stopped a robbery in progress with Flock. We found a stolen vehicle on Flock, we searched the area and found the vehicle occupied by three males that were casing a parking lot over off the Beltway." The Sheriff’s Office reported that Flock cameras assisted in three arrests in a stolen vehicle case the week of May 29, 2026, and helped locate two kidnapped children earlier that month.

Critics raised privacy concerns, with some residents warning of mass surveillance and potential access by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. The Harris County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, and purchasing department have been working to strengthen data privacy provisions in the contract. Officials emphasized that Flock captures only vehicle images—not registered owner data—and that access is restricted to authorized personnel for criminal investigations.