Public Records Requested Regarding Monroe County Flock Safety Cameras

October 08, 2026

Robin Gregg of Monroe-Ralls submitted a public records request to the Monroe County Circuit Clerk and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on October 5, 2026, seeking information about the Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras used by Monroe County and/or the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Gregg received a response on October 8, 2026.

The request seeks records related to the purchase, authorization, operation and oversight of the Flock Safety camera system, including the following:

Contracts and agreements: The complete contract or service agreement between Monroe County, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Flock Safety, including attachments, amendments and renewals.

Financial records: Purchase orders, invoices, receipts, payment records and other documents related to the purchase, installation, lease, subscription or maintenance of the cameras and related services.

Commission records: County Commission agendas, meeting minutes, resolutions, orders and other records concerning discussion, authorization, approval or purchase of the system.

Authorization: Documentation identifying when the Flock system was approved or authorized and which governmental body or official approved it.

Camera locations and numbers: The total number of cameras currently installed or authorized in Monroe County, along with public records identifying their locations.

Data access policies: Policies, procedures, agreements and other records governing access to information collected by the cameras.

Agency access and sharing: A list of governmental and law enforcement agencies authorized to access, search, receive or share data collected by Monroe County’s Flock cameras.

Data retention and disclosure: Records concerning how long information is retained, when it is deleted, how it is shared and under what circumstances it is disclosed.

Correspondence: Emails, letters and other communications between county officials, the Sheriff’s Office, Flock Safety and other governmental agencies concerning the installation, purchase, operation or use of the cameras.

According to Monroe County Sheriff Joe Colston, gathering the requested information will take approximately two hours at a rate of $18 per hour, for an estimated total cost of $36. Gregg requested that the records be provided electronically.

The request is intended to obtain public records that may help clarify the county’s authorization and use of the Flock Safety system, the costs associated with the program, and the policies governing access to and handling of the information collected.

As of October 8, 2026, Gregg had received a response regarding the estimated cost and time needed to gather the requested information from the Sheriff as well as a phone call. He and I will be meeting next week to share the information and then will be shared to the public.