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Amarillo Ledger

Storyline · 16 events · Apr 13, 2021 – Sep 8, 2026

Amarillo police license-plate reader cameras and the Flock Safety system (2021-2026)

The Amarillo Police Department bought fixed and mobile Vigilant license plate recognition systems with a federal grant in April 2021. In September 2023 the City Council approved the first of several license plate reader (LPR) purchases for the new Amarillo Regional Crime Center through Insight Public Sector under OMNIA contract 23-6692-03, and in December 2023 it authorized agreements with TxDOT so Flock Group, Inc. cameras could be placed on state right-of-way. Grant-funded expansions followed in 2023 and 2024. Council renewed the "Flock Safety ALPR" service from the general fund in July 2025 ($164,818.44) and December 2025 ($255,000.00), covering 80 Flock units. In 2026 a former officer was fired and charged with 78 counts of tampering with a government record over alleged personal searches; council took no action on a 29-camera Verkada traffic-camera purchase on August 11, and on September 8 the police chief told council that ALPR data retention would drop from 30 days to 7 and described new audit and data-sharing rules.

A storyline groups dated events in order. It is a chronology, not an argument; it does not say why anything happened. All storylines

Where the story starts depends on the framing

  1. · Precursor

    Council approves Vigilant license plate recognition systems with a federal grant

    On the consent agenda, the City Council approves the purchase of fixed and mobile Vigilant License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems from Vigilant Solutions and Trinity Innovative Solutions for $105,000.28, mostly funded by a Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. The consent agenda passed 5:0. This is a different vendor from the later Flock system.[1][2]

    Vigilant Solutions

    • ✓ Verified

      On April 13, 2021 the City Council approved, as consent item 2.C, $105,000.28 for fixed and mobile Vigilant License Plate Recognition systems from Vigilant Solutions and Trinity Innovative Solutions: $103,850.00 from Project Safe Neighborhoods grant 4088001 and $1,150.28 from a City account. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (Mayor Nelson and Councilmembers Hays, Powell, Sauer and Smith). [1][2]

      Amount
      $105,000
      Grant
      $103,850
      City
      $1,150

  2. · Origin

    Council approves $147,150 for 40 license plate readers for the Regional Crime Center

    On the consent agenda, the City Council approves buying license plate reader technology for the Amarillo Regional Crime Center from Insight Public Sector for $147,150.00 under OMNIA cooperative contract 23-6692-03, funded by a Smart Policing Initiative grant awarded to the police department in 2021. The memo says the purchase will acquire 40 license plate readers. The consent agenda passed 5:0. The same reseller and OMNIA contract number appear on the City's later renewals of its "existing Flock Safety ALPR" system; the 2023 memo does not name the manufacturer.[3][4][5]

    Cole StanleyLes SimpsonDon TippsJosh CraftInsight Public Sector, Inc.

    • ✓ Verified

      On September 12, 2023 the City Council approved consent item 7.N, $147,150.00 to Insight Public Sector under OMNIA cooperative contract 23-6692-03 for license plate reader technology for the Amarillo Regional Crime Center. The staff memo says the purchase would acquire 40 license plate readers and be paid from a Smart Policing Initiative grant awarded to the police department in 2021. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (Craft, Scherlen, Stanley, Simpson, Tipps). [3][4][5]

      Amount
      $147,150
      Readers
      40
    • ✓ Verified

      The September 2023 and December 2023 purchase memos do not name the camera manufacturer. The same reseller (Insight Public Sector) and OMNIA contract number (23-6692-03) appear on the City's July 2025 and December 2025 renewals of its "existing Flock Safety ALPR" system, and a December 2023 resolution names Flock Group, Inc. as the company to install and monitor the City's pole-mounted LPR cameras on state right-of-way. [4][6][7][8]

    • ✓ Verified

      The City's check register records two payments to Flock Group Inc. directly: $3,150.00 on July 13, 2023 and $3,000.00 on November 14, 2024. The register does not say what either payment was for, and the council-approved purchases and renewals were awarded to the reseller Insight Public Sector rather than to Flock. The register begins in July 2022. [9]

      Payment 2023 07 13
      $3,150
      Payment 2024 11 14
      $3,000
      Total
      $6,150

      See the payments in the check register →

    • ⚠ Sources differ

      Accounts differ on when Amarillo police began using license plate reader or Flock cameras.

      Reported value 1[10][1]

      Year
      2,021

      NewsChannel10 (May 2026) reported Flock ID license plate reader cameras had operated citywide since 2021. Council records show a 2021 purchase of a different (Vigilant) LPR system.

      Reported value 2[11]

      Year
      2,022

      NewsChannel10 (March 2025) reported the department installed its first camera reader at a busy intersection in 2022.

      Reported value 3[5][12][9]

      Year
      2,023

      First council approval of the Insight/OMNIA reader purchases (September 2023) and installation of 37 readers reported for October 2023; the register's first Flock payment is July 2023.

  3. · Context

    Regional Crime Center reports 37 license plate readers being installed citywide

    NewsChannel10 reports that the Amarillo Regional Crime Center plans to install 37 license plate readers throughout the city by the end of October 2023, funded through Project Safe Neighborhood by a Smart Policing Initiative grant, and that collected data is kept for 30 days and then deleted.[12]

    • ✓ Verified

      License plate reader data was kept for 30 days and then deleted, according to NewsChannel10 in October 2023; in April 2026 Police Chief Thomas Hover said Flock data was not kept longer than 30 days. [12][13]

      Retention days
      30

  4. · Related development

    Council authorizes TxDOT agreements for Flock cameras and a second 40-camera purchase

    On the consent agenda, the City Council adopts Resolution No. 12-12-23-1 authorizing multiple use agreements with the Texas Department of Transportation to place license plate recognition cameras on state right-of-way; the resolution states the council desires to engage Flock Group, Inc. to install, maintain and monitor the fixed, pole-mounted cameras. The same consent agenda approves a $132,250.00 purchase from OMNIA/Insight of 40 LPR camera systems described as the second phase of LPR installation, funded with federal grant funds. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (item 10.BB was pulled).[6][14]

    Cole StanleyLes SimpsonDon TippsJosh CraftFlock Group, Inc. (Flock Safety)Insight Public Sector, Inc.

    • ✓ Verified

      Resolution No. 12-12-23-1 authorized multiple use agreements with TxDOT to place solar-powered license plate readers on state right-of-way, with locations in its caption roughly 10 miles east and west of the city limits on Interstate 40 and 10 miles north and south on Interstate 27, and states that the council desires to engage Flock Group, Inc. for installation, maintenance and monitoring. It passed on the consent agenda 5:0 (Stanley, Craft, Tipps, Scherlen, Simpson). [6][14]

    • ✓ Verified

      Consent item 10.Z awarded $132,250.00 to OMNIA/Insight for 40 license plate reader camera systems, including installation and support, described as the second phase of LPR installation and funded with federal grant funds. [6][14]

      Amount
      $132,250
      Cameras
      40

  5. · Context

    40 more license plate readers installed in south and east Amarillo; search form required

    NewsChannel10 reports that the Regional Crime Center is adding 40 license plate readers in the south and east parts of Amarillo, that the first phase had assisted in 218 cases, 66 arrests and 84 recovered stolen vehicles, and that, in response to public concerns, officers must now complete a form before searching the database.[15]

    • ✓ Verified

      In February 2024 NewsChannel10 reported that, in response to public concerns, officers had to complete a form before searching the license plate reader database, and that the first phase had assisted in 218 cases, 66 arrests and 84 recovered stolen vehicles. [15]

      Cases
      218
      Arrests
      66
      Stolen vehicles recovered
      84

  6. · Related development

    Council approves 20 subscription license plate readers near interstates ($105,400)

    On the consent agenda, the City Council approves a subscription-based expansion of 20 fixed license plate readers near interstate highways, around the edge of the Project Safe Neighborhoods zone, from Insight Public Sector under OMNIA contract 23-6692-03 for $105,400.00, funded by the FY24 COPS Technology and Equipment Program grant. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (item KK was pulled).[16][17][18]

    Cole StanleyLes SimpsonDon TippsJosh CraftInsight Public Sector, Inc.

    • ✓ Verified

      Consent item 8.YY awarded $105,400.00 to Insight Public Sector (OMNIA 23-6692-03) for a subscription-based expansion of 20 fixed license plate readers near interstate highways, funded by the FY24 COPS Technology and Equipment Program. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (Stanley, Craft, Tipps, Scherlen, Simpson). [16][17][18]

      Amount
      $105,400
      Cameras
      20

  7. · Context

    Police report 2024 license plate reader results

    NewsChannel10 reports that police installed their first camera reader in 2022 and 80 more in 2023, that the readers can read about 13 million plates a month and use artificial intelligence to flag anomalies, and that in 2024 they were used in 665 incidents, with 164 stolen vehicles recovered and 243 arrests.[11]

    • ✓ Verified

      The Regional Crime Center commander told NewsChannel10 that in 2024 license plate readers were used in 665 incidents, with 164 stolen vehicles recovered and 243 arrests. [11]

      Incidents
      665
      Stolen vehicles recovered
      164
      Arrests
      243

  8. · Related development

    Council renews Flock Safety ALPR service for $164,818.44

    On the consent agenda, the City Council approves the annual renewal of service and support for the City's existing Flock Safety automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras through Insight Public Sector under OMNIA contract 23-6692-03 for $164,818.44, from general fund revenues. The memo says no hardware is being purchased. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (item 8.E was considered separately).[7][19]

    Cole StanleyTim ReidDon TippsDavid PrescottLes SimpsonFlock Group, Inc. (Flock Safety)Insight Public Sector, Inc.

    • ✓ Verified

      Consent item 8.K renewed service and support for the existing Flock Safety ALPR cameras for $164,818.44 from general fund revenues through Insight Public Sector (ITB 271-25, OMNIA 23-6692-03). The consent agenda passed 5:0 (Stanley, Reid, Tipps, Prescott, Simpson). [7][19]

      Amount
      $164,818
    • ⚠ Sources differ

      The July 2025 renewal packet gives two different camera counts.

      Reported value 1[7]

      Cameras
      25

      Agenda item summary: software licensing, data hosting, analytics and support 'for 25 cameras'.

      Reported value 2[7]

      Units
      80
      Standard falcon
      71
      High speed
      7
      Portable
      2

      Bid tabulation ITB 271-25 line items: 71 Falcon units at $1,939.04, 7 at $3,231.74 and 2 portable units at $2,262.21, totaling $164,818.44.

  9. · Related development

    Council renews Flock Safety ALPR system for one more year at $255,000

    On the consent agenda, the City Council approves renewing the Flock Safety ALPR system for an additional one-year term through Insight Public Sector (OMNIA 23-6692-03) for $255,000.00 from general fund revenues. The memo says the renewal covers 71 standard Falcon cameras, 7 high-speed cameras and 2 movable Falcon units. The consent agenda passed 5:0.[8][20]

    Cole StanleyTim ReidDon TippsDavid PrescottLes SimpsonFlock Group, Inc. (Flock Safety)Insight Public Sector, Inc.

    • ✓ Verified

      Consent item 5.9 renewed the Flock Safety ALPR system for an additional one-year term for $255,000.00 from general funds through Insight Public Sector (OMNIA 23-6692-03), covering 71 standard Falcon cameras, 7 high-speed cameras and 2 movable Falcon units. The consent agenda passed 5:0 (Stanley, Reid, Tipps, Prescott, Simpson). [8][20]

      Amount
      $255,000
      Units
      80
    • ✓ Verified

      The two 2025 renewals list the same 80 Flock units (71 + 7 + 2) at $164,818.44 in July and $255,000.00 in December, a difference of $90,181.56. Neither memo states the service period covered or explains the difference. [7][8]

      July 2025
      $164,818
      December 2025
      $255,000
      Difference
      $90,182
    • ⚠ Sources differ

      Reported counts of Amarillo's Flock cameras differ by source and date.

      Reported value 1[8]

      Count
      80
      As of
      2025-12

      Units covered by the December 2025 renewal memo.

      Reported value 2[13]

      Count
      80
      As of
      2026-04
      Approximate
      true

      'About 80 Flock cameras,' per ABC 7's April 2026 report.

      Reported value 3[21]

      Count
      85
      As of
      2026-09

      Police Chief Thomas Hover, as reported by Texas Scorecard.

  10. · Context

    Homeland Security camera grant prompts public questions about Flock use

    ABC 7 reports that after council approved accepting a Homeland Security grant for more cameras, residents raised privacy and placement concerns. Police Chief Thomas Hover said the department uses about 80 Flock cameras, does not keep Flock data longer than 30 days, places cameras based on calls for service, and would release information to federal immigration authorities if they were working an investigation cooperatively with the department.[13]

    Thomas Hover

    • ✓ Verified

      Thomas Hover, Police Chief; an organizer with Flock Off the 806: Police Chief Thomas Hover said camera placement is based on calls for service, not demographics, and that the department would release information to federal immigration authorities if they were working an investigation cooperatively with it. An organizer with the group Flock Off the 806 cited ten cameras in the San Jacinto neighborhood and questioned the spending. [13]

  11. · Related development

    Council approves 18 Verkada intersection cameras after public comment

    Council pulls consent item 4.7, a $128,404.26 purchase of Verkada camera systems from Control Technologies adding 18 traffic cameras at intersections for 10 years (funded by a Panhandle Regional Planning Commission homeland security grant of $127,533.26 and $871 from the general fund), hears Police Chief Thomas Hover, and approves it with the consent agenda 4-0 (Councilmember Tipps absent). NewsChannel10 reports that speakers raised privacy concerns and that Flock license plate reader cameras had operated citywide since 2021.[22][10]

    Cole StanleyThomas HoverLes SimpsonTim ReidDavid PrescottControl Technologies, Inc.

    • ✓ Verified

      Consent item 4.7 bought Verkada camera systems from Control Technologies (OMNIA R220703) adding 18 traffic cameras at intersections for 10 years, for $128,404.26: $127,533.26 from a Panhandle Regional Planning Commission homeland security grant and $871 from general fund revenues. It was pulled for presentation by Chief Hover, then approved with the consent agenda 4-0 (Stanley, Reid, Prescott, Simpson; Tipps absent). [22]

      Amount
      $128,404
      Grant
      $127,533
      General fund
      $871
      Cameras
      18
    • ✓ Verified

      Cole Stanley, Mayor: Mayor Cole Stanley said the cameras would focus on intersections rather than private homes or businesses and that the system is not facial recognition or tracking, and said residents could be given a way to see where camera data goes and how long it is kept. [10]

  12. · Related development

    Police department fires an officer after a citizen complaint about searches

    The Amarillo Police Department fires an officer for inappropriate use of department resources after a citizen complaint and an internal investigation, and refers the matter to Potter County prosecutors. The firing was made public on August 31, 2026.[23][24]

    • ✓ Verified

      The police department fired the officer on July 17, 2026 for inappropriate use of department resources after a citizen complaint and an internal investigation found no department case or assignment that would justify his searches. [23][24]

    • ✓ Verified

      Thomas Hover, Police Chief: The searches came to light through a complaint from the man who was searched, not through internal monitoring. Chief Hover said such searches do not raise red flags unless the stated reason is false, and ABC 7 reported that Flock's AI flags repeated searches of the same plate but did not flag these until a week or two before the hearing. [25][24]

  13. · Related development

    Council takes no action on 29 Verkada traffic cameras and two traffic-signal purchases

    At Councilmember Les Simpson's request, three items were removed from the consent agenda: the purchase of 29 Verkada traffic cameras from Control Technologies ($343,673.16, COPS grant), traffic signal video detection systems ($260,790.20) and related signal cabinets and controllers. After presentations, no action was taken on any of the three; the rest of the consent agenda passed 5-0. Simpson also requested a future agenda item on the City's use of cameras for surveillance and security. NewsChannel 10's headline described the items as Flock cameras; the minutes and the article's body do not name Flock.[26][27][28]

    Les SimpsonCole StanleyThomas Hover

    • ✓ Verified

      The items removed from the August 11, 2026 consent agenda were 29 Verkada traffic cameras ($343,673.16), traffic signal video detection systems ($260,790.20) and traffic signal cabinets and controllers; the minutes record that no action was taken on them and no vote to pause.[26][27]

      Verkada cameras
      29
      Verkada amount
      $343,673
      Video detection amount
      $260,790
    • ✓ Verified

      Neither the August 11 minutes nor NewsChannel 10's report of the meeting mention the investigation of a former officer's Flock searches, which was first reported on August 31, 2026.[26][28][23]

  14. · Context

    Governor directs state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras

    Gov. Greg Abbott directs state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras; his spokesman confirms it the next day. The Texas Tribune reports the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority had helped state and local agencies install at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023. The report does not mention Amarillo; Amarillo's council-approved LPR purchases listed federal grants and the general fund as funding sources.[29][4][17][8]

    • ✓ Verified

      Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras on a Thursday night in late August 2026; a spokesman said that to the extent cities get funding for the cameras, most of it comes from the federal government. The report does not mention Amarillo. [29]

    • ✓ Verified

      The council records for Amarillo's LPR purchases list a Smart Policing Initiative grant (September 2023), federal grant funds (December 2023), the FY24 COPS Technology and Equipment Program (December 2024) and general fund revenues for the 2025 renewals as funding sources; none lists state Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority funds. [4][6][17][7][8]

  15. · Trigger

    Former officer charged over alleged personal Flock searches

    Potter County prosecutors (reported as the County Attorney's Office in one NewsChannel 10 report and the District Attorney's Office in another) accept a criminal complaint against the former officer for tampering with a government record, a Class A misdemeanor. The complaint alleges he ran one man's license plate through the Flock system 76 times between February and June 2026 and searched the man's name twice in another investigative database. He turned himself in on September 1 and was released on bond; court records list 78 counts.[23][30][31][24]

    Thomas Hover

    • ✓ Verified

      The former officer faces 78 counts of tampering with a government record, each a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail. The complaint alleges 76 Flock searches of one man's license plate between February 25 and June 13, 2026 and two TLOxp searches of the man's name on April 22. Court records list 3 counts in February, 41 in April, 20 in May and 14 in June. He turned himself in on September 1 and was released on a $4,500 bond per charge. The case is pending. [23][30][31][24]

      Counts
      78
      Flock searches
      76
      Tloxp searches
      2
      Max fine per count
      $4,000
      Bond per count
      $4,500
    • ⚠ Sources differ

      NewsChannel10 reports name different Potter County prosecuting offices as accepting the complaint on August 31.

      Reported value 1[23][30]

      Office
      Potter County Attorney's Office

      Reported value 2[31]

      Office
      Potter County District Attorney's Office
    • ✓ Verified

      Thomas Hover, Police Chief: Chief Thomas Hover said he was "deeply frustrated and disappointed" by the former officer's use of his access to criminal justice information for personal reasons, and said he had added safeguards including "increased supervisory review of officer searches, expanded auditing capabilities." [23]

    • ✓ Verified

      NewsChannel10 reported that the Amarillo case is listed in an Institute for Justice database of reported ALPR misuse in Texas and that Amarillo was the only city in the Texas Panhandle and West Texas region with an open Flock misuse case. [32]

  16. · Peak

    Police chief presents camera policy changes to council; ALPR retention cut to 7 days

    At the discussion item on the City's use of cameras and a possible city-wide policy, Police Chief Thomas Hover tells council that ALPR data retention will drop from 30 days to seven, supervisors will run monthly random audits of each officer's searches and review flagged searches within three days, Flock data will be shared only with Texas law enforcement agencies, and live body-camera viewing will be limited to supervisors and the Regional Crime Center. Councilmember Les Simpson asks the City to explore an independent third-party audit; Mayor Cole Stanley proposes a council-appointed oversight committee. No vote is reported.[33][34][24][25]

    Thomas HoverLes SimpsonCole Stanley

    • ✓ Verified

      Chief Hover told council on September 8, 2026 that ALPR data retention would drop from 30 days to seven, starting the following week. [24][25][34]

      Retention days before
      30
      Retention days after
      7
    • ✓ Verified

      The other changes presented: supervisors run monthly random audits of each assigned officer's searches and review flagged searches within three days; Amarillo's Flock data is shared only with law enforcement agencies in Texas; and live body-camera viewing is limited to supervisors and the Amarillo Regional Crime Center, with off-duty access ended. [24][25][34]

    • ✓ Verified

      Thomas Hover, Police Chief: Chief Hover said that over the previous 18 months Flock cameras helped recover 251 stolen vehicles and about $2.7 million in stolen property, make 915 arrests and locate 44 missing people. [24][25]

      Stolen vehicles recovered
      251
      Arrests
      915
      Missing people located
      44
      Stolen property
      $2,700,000
    • ✓ Verified

      Les Simpson, Councilmember; Cole Stanley, Mayor; Thomas Hover, Police Chief: Councilmember Les Simpson said "the issue is whether government can be trusted to police its own use of the technology without independent oversight" and asked the City to explore an independent third-party audit and a camera policy, keeping only cameras that meet it. Mayor Cole Stanley proposed a council-appointed oversight committee of active, retired or reserve officers and members of the public. Chief Hover recommended that an advisory board evaluate privacy concerns and policy recommendations. [24][34]

    • ⚠ Sources differ

      Cole Stanley, Mayor: Reports of Mayor Cole Stanley's September 8 remarks on the cameras differ in emphasis.

      Reported value 1[34]

      Value
      would consider taking the Flock cameras down

      NewsChannel10: Stanley said he would consider taking the cameras down given nationwide pushback and would keep talking with APD and residents.

      Reported value 2[21][24]

      Value
      "I almost want to go the opposite direction"

      Texas Scorecard quotes Stanley on restricting officers' ability to look at the cameras; ABC 7 reports he suggested posting camera feeds online like TxDOT traffic cameras.

    • ✓ Verified

      The September 8 item was listed as a discussion item, and no vote on it was reported. Later posted council records (the August 25 minutes and the September 22 and October 13, 2026 agendas) contain no item on a city-wide camera policy, an oversight committee, the Flock contract or the 29-camera Verkada purchase. [33][35][36][37]

Related storylines: Amarillo's red-light camera program (2007-2022)Amarillo city manager turnover (2015-2026)