The Mayflower Police Department has become the latest Arkansas law-enforcement agency to halt its use of Flock Safety cameras amid growing concerns about privacy, surveillance and the liberties of law-abiding citizens.
Interim Police Chief Brittany B. Byrd announced Monday, August 10, that the department has discontinued its use of the cameras and is rescinding their deployment within Mayflower immediately.
The decision follows recent action in Cabot, where city officials disabled the community’s Flock Safety license plate readers following public privacy concerns.
According to the official Mayflower Police Department release, the City of Mayflower signed a multiyear contract with Flock Safety in 2023. That contract continues through September 2027.
Mayflower police said the decision was made after analyzing and evaluating the capabilities of the camera system.
The department acknowledged that Flock cameras have assisted with successful investigations and prosecutions across the United States, including cases within Mayflower. Byrd said the cameras can be valuable law-enforcement tools when used properly.
Despite those benefits, the department concluded that the technology is intrusive.
“For many years, law enforcement officers have successfully investigated cases without the use of Flock cameras, and that is still possible today,” the department stated.
Byrd said the Mayflower Police Department would not participate in tactics that compromise or infringe upon the liberties of law-abiding citizens.
The announcement follows action taken in Cabot, where Mayor Ken Kincade said immediate steps were taken to disable that city’s Flock Safety cameras. Kincade is identified by the city as Cabot’s mayor. City of Cabot
Cabot Police Chief Dodd suspended the police department’s access to the system and blocked access by other agencies. City workers then unplugged the cameras from their solar battery sources and physically covered them.
Cabot has not announced whether its cameras will be permanently removed.
Fairfield Bay Mayor Seth Connell has also publicly criticized the spread of automated license plate-reading cameras. Connell has argued that a widespread network of cameras capable of recording vehicle information and travel locations represents a threat to personal privacy.
The Mayflower, Cabot and Fairfield Bay developments reflect a widening debate in Arkansas over how automated license plate readers should be used, who should have access to the information they collect and whether their public-safety benefits outweigh privacy concerns.
Flock Safety cameras photograph passing vehicles and convert the information into searchable records. The system can record license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, locations and times. Law-enforcement agencies use the information to locate stolen vehicles, identify vehicles connected to investigations and receive alerts involving wanted or missing persons.
Flock Safety maintains that its cameras collect vehicle information rather than facial data. The company also says its law-enforcement customers control access, sharing and retention policies for their data. Flock Safety
Mayflower’s official release confirms that the department is discontinuing its use and deployment of the cameras immediately. However, the physical removal of the equipment and the city’s remaining contractual responsibilities are still being negotiated.
Police personnel have been communicating with Flock Safety representatives for some time to negotiate removal terms despite the contract continuing through September 2027.
The department did not disclose how many cameras are deployed in Mayflower, how much the contract costs, when the equipment will be physically removed or whether the city could face financial penalties.
Byrd said the Mayflower Police Department remains committed to providing the best service possible while continuing to build trust with the citizens it serves.
ArkansasRadio.com will continue following the decisions in Mayflower and Cabot, along with the broader debate over Flock Safety cameras across Arkansas.
KEY FACTS:
Mayflower officially announced its decision August 10, 2026.
Mayflower’s Flock Safety contract began in 2023.
The contract continues through September 2027.
Mayflower is discontinuing the cameras’ use and deployment immediately.
Physical removal and remaining contractual obligations are still being negotiated.
Interim Chief Brittany Byrd described the technology as intrusive.
The department cited the liberties of law-abiding citizens.
Mayflower police acknowledged that the cameras helped investigations and prosecutions.
Cabot recently disabled, unplugged and physically covered its Flock cameras.
Cabot has not announced whether its cameras will be permanently removed.
Fairfield Bay Mayor Seth Connell has publicly criticized widespread license plate readers.
Flock Safety says local agencies control access to and sharing of their data.
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