County commissioners authorized the Parker County Sheriff’s Office to use seized asset funds to buy the cameras from Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company, according to the March 23, 2026 Commissioners Court agenda and reporting by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The cameras capture the rear of passing vehicles to record license plate information. They also use AI-driven vehicle fingerprinting technology to note details such as make, model, color, stickers and temporary plates. The cameras do not detect speed.
“We know how important these cameras are,” Chief Deputy Mark Arnett told commissioners on March 23. “We’re seeing it in other counties. It’s helping us solve cases, and they’re invaluable.”
The Parker County Sheriff’s Office currently has no Flock Safety cameras. It has applied for a Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Grant through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, with the application still pending, Arnett said.
The Texas DMV grant gives priority to projects that incorporate automatic license plate reader programs and surveillance equipment, according to the official FY2027 grant request for applications. While awaiting the grant decision, the sheriff’s office plans to use seized asset funds to proceed with the purchase.
Arnett said the county is “surrounded on all sides” by jurisdictions already using the technology. Tarrant County operates Flock cameras, and the Fort Worth City Council approved a contract with Flock Safety in June 2025.
Flock Safety sells license plate readers, drones and gunshot detectors to thousands of law enforcement agencies and homeowner associations across the United States. The company valued itself at $7.5 billion in 2025.
The use of such cameras has increased nationwide in recent years, sparking debates over surveillance and data sharing. Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley has stated that the company does not share data with federal agencies, but that customers may choose to do so.
Texas recently fined Flock Safety for operating without a required license, according to the Houston Chronicle. A federal judge ruled in January that the city of Norfolk, Virginia’s use of similar cameras did not violate the Fourth Amendment. The Parker County Sheriff’s Office has declined to release details about the number of cameras to be purchased or their planned locations.
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