Erin Hill
Gadsden County News Service
Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young has temporarily suspended deputies’ use of the Flock camera system, adding a new development to questions surrounding automated license plate readers in Gadsden County.
Young issued the directive Sept. 1, saying the suspension will allow the Sheriff’s Office to evaluate its use of the technology and ensure appropriate policies and safeguards are in place.
The decision came after the Florida Department of Transportation issued an Aug. 31 memorandum revoking permits for automated license plate recognition systems located within rights of way on the State Highway System. The department gave law enforcement agencies 30 days to remove affected cameras.
The earlier state action raised questions about Flock cameras operating in the Havana area and elsewhere in Gadsden County. A publicly available camera map reviewed in late August did not identify a Flock Safety camera within Havana’s municipal boundaries, although the map is not an official inventory of law enforcement equipment.
The Sheriff’s Office’s latest action goes further than the state directive by suspending deputies’ use of the Flock system.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Flock has been used as an investigative tool to assist with solving homicides and violent crimes, locating wanted individuals and fugitives, and developing investigative leads.
Young said the system’s usefulness must be weighed against privacy and constitutional concerns.
“Our responsibility is not only to protect our community, but also to ensure that we do so within the law and with respect for the constitutional rights of every person we serve,” Young said. “While this technology has proven to be a valuable investigative resource, we must ensure its use is consistent with proper policy, legal requirements, and the rights of our citizens.”
The Flock system is operated through a subscription funded by the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners and used by the Sheriff’s Office as an investigative resource.
County commissioners approved an agreement in March 2024 associated with the Sheriff’s Office for 25 Flock Safety devices. The agreement included 20 fixed Falcon license plate readers and five portable Falcon Flex cameras. The initial two-year agreement totaled $162,000 and provided for a 30-day data retention period.
The Sheriff’s Office said the temporary suspension is intended to allow the agency to evaluate the system and determine whether appropriate measures are in place to balance law enforcement needs with privacy, civil liberties and constitutional protections.
“Public safety and constitutional rights are not competing priorities,” Young said. “We have a responsibility to protect both.”
The Sheriff’s Office did not provide a timeline for when the suspension could be lifted or specify what policy changes or other measures would be required before deputies could resume using the system. The agency said additional information will be provided as appropriate regarding the status and future use of Flock.
Questions also remain about the physical cameras themselves. The Sheriff’s Office announcement addresses deputies’ use of the Flock system but does not state whether cameras will be removed, deactivated or remain in place during the suspension.
The Department of Transportation order separately requires affected automated license plate readers within state highway rights of way to be removed. It does not constitute a statewide ban on Flock cameras or other automated license plate readers.
