Walton County Commissioners Vote Unanimously to Remove Flock Cameras
The Walton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on August 26 to remove all Flock license plate reader cameras from county rights-of-way, effectively ending the use of the automated surveillance technology on county-controlled roads across Walton County — including the Highway 20 and US 331 corridors that Freeport residents travel daily.
The 5-0 vote directs the county to disconnect the devices on all county-controlled rights-of-way. The Flock system, operated by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, had deployed roughly 106 automated license plate readers across Walton County since its adoption. The cameras capture and store license plate data, vehicle descriptions, and location information as traffic passes by, feeding the data into a searchable database used by law enforcement to track stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, and identify suspects.
The decision applies only to county-controlled roads. Many of the Flock cameras are on state roads or within city limits, placing them outside the county’s direct jurisdiction and meaning some cameras may remain in operation.
Supporters of the system, including law enforcement officials, have pointed to its role in solving crimes. Proponents noted the system’s success in locating missing persons and tracking down wanted suspects. But critics — including privacy advocates and some residents — raised concerns about data retention, facial recognition capabilities, and the expansion of surveillance infrastructure on public roads. Those concerns carried the day, with all five commissioners voting to end the program on county rights-of-way.
The five-member Board of County Commissioners includes Dan Curry (District 1), whose district office is located at 902 FL-20, Suite 112 in Freeport. The other commissioners are Danny Glidewell (District 2), Brad Drake (District 3, Chairman), Donna Johns (District 4), and Tony Anderson (District 5, Vice Chairman). The unanimous vote signals a shared concern across the board about the privacy implications of the technology, despite its stated law enforcement benefits.
For Freeport residents, the removal affects cameras positioned along county roads that thread through and around the city. Highway 20, Freeport’s main east-west artery, and US 331, the primary north-south route connecting Freeport to I-10 and the county seat in DeFuniak Springs, are both county rights-of-way where Flock cameras have been deployed. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, which provides primary patrol coverage for Freeport, will lose a tool it has used to track vehicles passing through the area.
The decision places Walton County among a growing number of communities across the country that have terminated Flock contracts. According to the Institute for Justice, at least 82 communities in 28 states have ended Flock Safety contracts since 2021, with 39 of those terminations occurring in the first five months of 2026 alone.
Originally reported by WJHG Newschannel 7 and Mid Bay News.
Image: WJHG Newschannel 7.
