HOUSTON – Political tensions flared between Harris County’s elected leaders during a discussion about renewing a contract with Flock Safety, a public safety technology company whose license plate-reading cameras are routinely used by local law enforcement.
The one-year contract renewal approved this week carries a price tag of just over $868,000.
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Community members raise privacy alarms
The vote came days before the contract’s expiration on June 6, and several residents voiced opposition during the meeting.
“There are not and can’t be enough guardrails around unauthorized use of electronic surveillance,” said Laura, a Precinct 1 resident.
Jesus, a Precinct 4 resident, pushed back on the investment. “Flock is a surveillance system that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to track and monitor communities in Harris County ... stop investing in technology that monitors our neighbors and put those tax dollars into real community resources that help us thrive.”
Others raised concerns about mass surveillance and the potential for third parties to access private information, or the possibility that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officers could get access to the information.
Commissioners clash before discussion begins
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Rodney Ellis wanted to discuss the contract after hearing community concerns, but they didn’t have commissioners’ support to move forward with a discussion.
“I represent all the voters in Harris County unlike my colleagues and I oppose a lack of discussion. I myself need to be able to discuss this to figure out where I am,” Hidalgo said.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey initially resisted any discussion — moving instead to vote on the item immediately.
Back-and-forth continued before Commissioner Adrian Garcia made a motion to discuss the item, which Ramsey finally seconded.
“Y’all are playing games here, clearly, all of a sudden you’re for it,” Hidalgo said. “I don’t know what game you’re playing but I don’t trust y’all.”
Hidalgo then quipped: “They flip-flopped. The usual.”
Community demand, data privacy talks
Discussion ultimately moved forward and Commissioner Lesley Briones noted the contract covers existing technology and said she frequently hears about the Flock cameras at community meetings, which she described as being in “very high demand.”
Briones also noted that the County Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office and the purchasing department had been working to tighten language around data privacy.
According to Harris County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Anthony McConnell, who testified at the meeting, many of the cameras are funded not by tax dollars, but by homeowners associations, MUD districts or other entities. The Sheriff’s Office administers the cameras.
McConnell explained that Flock captures images of vehicles but does not store additional information such as registered owner data. Because the system photographs the back of vehicles, it is also difficult for law enforcement to identify who may be inside.
“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,” McConnell said.
Garcia expressed confidence in how the technology is being used. “This has turned out to be a very valuable tool to help solve crimes,” he said. “While there is a concern ... I have great confidence that the technology is being used appropriately.”
Contract passes; political jabs follow
Hidalgo pushed back on what she characterized as a rushed process that didn’t include community input.
“If we are really open to accountability, then we would not be trying to ram this through,” she said, and again referenced commissioners’ failure to pass her initiative last year to place a measure on the ballot allowing voters to approve funding for early childhood education.
The contract ultimately passed with four votes. Hidalgo abstained.
Tensions carried over into the end of the discussion on the item.
“This is bizarre to not want to discuss it and then only discuss it for an hour. But it’s par for the course for my GOP three,” Hidalgo said, how she has been referring to Garcia, Briones and Ramsey.
“It’s GOP four now,” Garcia responded, appearing to include Ellis.