Retired officer weighs in after Henrico pulls plug on Flock license plate readers

Henrico County is ending its contract with Flock Safety, pulling the plug on more than 100 automated license plate reader cameras used by police to investigate crime.

The Board of Supervisors said the decision to terminate the contract followed several conversations with community members, police, experts and among board members themselves.

But Miles Turner, a retired police officer who spent nearly four decades in law enforcement in Central Virginia and Caroline County, believes losing the cameras could come at a cost.

Turner used Flock cameras while working in Caroline County and said the technology gave law enforcement information in real time.

“Every time a stolen or wanted vehicle goes past one of those cameras, the radio room for that jurisdiction gets notified instantly,” Turner said.

Henrico has 116 automated license plate readers, along with six mobile units. Turner said the technology can help investigators with more than stolen vehicles. He said license plate readers can also assist with investigations involving robberies, homicides and sexual assaults.

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