Sheriff's Office Investigating Destruction of Two Flock Cameras

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office is investigating the deliberate destruction of two local Flock Safety cameras as the network of license-plate readers and surveillance cameras becomes more broadly known.

Sergeant Josh Hastings said the cameras, one in the northern part of the county and one in the west, were disabled when someone cut down the poles they were mounted on.

"It appears people are taking saws and cutting the poles the cameras are mounted on, which takes the whole thing out," Hastings said.

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As the Thread has previously reported, more than 50 Flock cameras are installed throughout Tuscaloosa County by a mix of public agencies and private clients, including Alabama Power, local businesses, and city governments.

The license plate recognition cameras have helped TCSO and other local agencies solve serious crimes, including a fatal Northport hit-and-run earlier this year, but the technology has also drawn scrutiny nationally over privacy concerns.

Hastings pushed back on some of that criticism, saying the cameras have proven valuable for investigators.

"I think there's a lot of misinformation out there about what these cameras actually do," Hastings said. "If people knew how much those are working for us, I think they'd feel differently. We've solved murders and robberies on them, stuff we would have never solved without those cameras."

Hastings said TCSO has taken steps to control who can access footage captured by the cameras.

"We have safeguards and protections in place when it comes to Flock cameras and who all has access to those photos and videos," Hastings said. "I know there have been some concerns because in some places there's unfortunately been some misuse, but we've put in measures to keep that from happening."

Hastings said TCSO is monitoring a broader, nationwide pattern of similar incidents and believes the destruction of the two local cameras is part of those trends.

"This appears to be an act of vandalism for a personal reason," Hastings said.

Whoever is responsible would face at least a criminal mischief charge, according to Hastings, though additional or more serious charges could apply depending on the investigation's findings.

"They're a huge tool for us, helping keep the community safe," Hastings said. "I want to stress to the community that these serve a good purpose, and I think some people are getting some misinformation on what they actually do and how they operate for us."

He also noted that any camera that is taken down will be replaced.

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