ARLINGTON, VA — The Arlington County Board has directed the county manager to stop using county-leased Flock Safety technology and begin removing 41 cameras, citing concerns raised by residents.
The board issued the directive during the open session of its Sept. 15 meeting, according to a county news release. The equipment includes 26 Falcon license plate reader cameras and 15 Condor cameras.
The county will request removal of all Flock Safety cameras installed on public property within 14 business days of the announcement, though logistical needs could extend the process beyond that timeframe.
Flock cameras on private property are outside county oversight and are unaffected by the decision, the release said.
"This decision reflects concerns raised by Arlington residents regarding the use of Flock technology," County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in the release.
De Ferranti said the county had maintained safeguards against abuse of the technology and that no misuse had been reported to date. He said the decision reflected the board's obligation to maintain community trust.
"The Board, the Manager, and our Public Safety staff will continue to evaluate the tools and technologies we use to ensure they align with the values and expectations of Arlington's residents," he said.
The county also directed that all data not required for active criminal investigations be deleted in accordance with applicable contractual, legal and operational requirements.
A public update is scheduled for the board's recessed meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22.
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