The City of Greer has initiated a 90-day suspension of its Flock surveillance camera software, effective Monday, August 25, 2026. All Flock cameras within city limits were covered with plastic bags to mark the temporary pause. This decision allows city leaders to evaluate the system’s effectiveness for law enforcement and address public privacy concerns.
City Administrator Andy Merriman stated that the 90-day period will be used to analyze the program’s implementation and determine if it unreasonably violates personal privacy. The solar-powered devices, known as License Plate Readers, are designed to assist agencies in tracking suspects involved in criminal offenses.
This suspension follows the termination of two Greer police officers earlier this year for misusing the Flock systems. The city reported that an AI Audit Assistance tool, introduced by Flock, enabled monthly reviews that uncovered the misuse. Greer has an internal policy for conducting these audits. Since the initial report, no further confirmed misuse has been found within the city’s system, though one camera was damaged on August 11.
Other law enforcement personnel in the Upstate region have also faced consequences for misusing Flock cameras. A dispatcher and a deputy with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, along with a police officer from the City of Mauldin police department, were terminated for similar offenses.
Greer initially implemented its contract with Flock in 2022, allocating an annual budget of $22,500 for 10 cameras. The city renewed this contract on July 23, and payments for the software will continue during the suspension, despite staff being unable to access the system and the cameras remaining covered. After the 90-day period, the city plans to share its findings with the public.
The use of automatic license plate readers has generated a national debate regarding mass surveillance, privacy, and civil rights. Instances of officers allegedly using Flock Safety cameras for unauthorized searches or stalking have been reported. The surveillance technology company recently announced platform changes aimed at addressing privacy concerns and documented abuses by some law enforcement members.
Greer resident Phillip Woodward, who recently moved to the city, noted the cameras were new to him and expressed mixed feelings about their presence, citing concerns about potential paranoia regarding surveillance. Merriman indicated that while a complete ban is not currently being considered, the 90-day timeout is warranted to ensure public privacy is respected within Greer.
Across the Upstate and Western North Carolina, some agencies have reported vandalism or damage to these cameras. The City of Asheville and Oconee County are reportedly considering total bans or defunding their Flock systems.
