The Dallas Police Department has formally notified Flock Safety that it plans to deactivate 321 license plate reader cameras after state funding for the devices ended Tuesday, but Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said he expects the cameras could eventually return.
The state-funded cameras represent about half of the more than 600 Flock cameras used by Dallas police. The department said the 321 cameras will remain operational for 10 business days after the required cancellation notice, meaning they are expected to continue operating through September 25.
Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras.
Dallas Police Exploring New Funding
Dallas police said they are looking for other ways to fund the 321 cameras after the state grant expired.
More than 300 additional Flock cameras funded by the city are expected to remain in operation. Dallas City Council voted earlier this month against ending the city’s $1.5 million Flock contract.
Comeaux said having fewer cameras could make it more difficult for officers to track vehicles involved in investigations.
“With less cameras it’s less pinpointing,” Comeaux said, per WFAA.
He said he believes the current funding pause could be temporary.
“My gut feeling is that it will come back,” Comeaux said, citing support from law enforcement officials who view the technology as an investigative tool.
Police Cite Flock As Investigative Tool
Dallas police officials have defended the license plate readers as a tool used in a wide range of investigations. DPD spokesperson Allison Hudson said the department uses the technology in investigations involving homicides, robberies, assaults, and motor vehicle crimes.
“The proof is in the stats as our primary investigative tool,” Hudson said, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
According to DPD, Flock cameras have helped solve 13 murders in Dallas in 2026 and have been used in 13% of business robbery cases.
The department has also said the cameras can help officers follow vehicles and narrow searches for suspects. At a September City Council meeting, police officials said the system was being used for thousands of searches each week.
Privacy Concerns Continue
Flock cameras have faced growing scrutiny from privacy advocates, who argue the technology collects information on large numbers of drivers who are not suspected of crimes.
Concerns have also focused on potential misuse of the system by law enforcement officers. Comeaux acknowledged that possibility while saying DPD has safeguards intended to prevent unauthorized use.
“I’m not going to sit here and tell you that no one will ever misuse the Flock system, but if they do, they’re going to have to come see me and they’ll pay a penalty,” Comeaux said, according to WFAA.
Flock has also said it is developing proactive auditing that can identify unusual search patterns and alert department leaders.
Dallas Limits Data Sharing
As part of its response to concerns surrounding the technology, Dallas police The department has also said searches are subject to restrictions and disciplinary consequences for misuse.
Meanwhile, other North Texas communities have taken different approaches. Wylie and Pflugerville have ended their Flock contracts, while Hood County previously voted to remove its cameras.
Chief Also Addresses Crime and 911 Response
Comeaux also discussed improvements in Dallas’ emergency response times, saying the department is approaching its goal of responding to the most urgent 911 calls within eight minutes.
He credited staffing changes, drone-as-first-responder technology, and giving supervisors greater ability to monitor officers and return them to service when needed.
Comeaux said DPD is continuing to analyze when calls are most frequent so staffing can be adjusted to match demand while maintaining officers on the streets to deter violent crime.
He also addressed recent crime statistics showing violent crime down nearly 9% compared with the same period last year, while homicides were up about 3%.
Comeaux said month-to-month changes can affect the numbers and maintained that the department remains on track for another year of overall crime reductions.
Provided by Dallas Express
