Lawmakers and Flock Safety CEO Clash Over Surveillance Cameras

WHO:

WTVC - Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced a bill to ban Flock cameras.

WTVC - Mt. Juliet Police Chief Tyler Chandler supports responsible use of license plate readers.

ABC7 - Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley hopes to restore the relationship with LAPD.

WHAT:

WTVC - Rep. Burchett claims that the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act would ban the federal purchasing and federal funding of Flock cameras, which he describes as “unconstitutional.”

WTVC - Chief Chandler stated that the Mt. Juliet Police Department's ALPR program has the strongest safeguards, operating policy, and strictest retention period compared to any agency in Tennessee.

ABC7 - Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley mentioned that the technology has helped locate missing people and track criminal suspects, including convicted felon Jerrid Powell, who was charged in the killings of four people in Los Angeles.

WTVC - Rep. Burchett claims that 88% of the individuals arrested using Flock technology were not residents of Mt. Juliet.

WTVC - Mt. Juliet Police Chief Tyler Chandler stated that 90% of individuals arrested for theft crimes were not Mt. Juliet residents.

ABC7 - Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley mentioned that the technology has helped locate missing people and track criminal suspects, including a convicted felon charged in the killings of four people in Los Angeles.

WTVC - The bill introduced by Rep. Burchett is called the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act.

WTVC - The Mt. Juliet Police Department arrested 342 people in the first half of 2026 using Flock technology.

ABC7 - The LAPD ended its three-year partnership with Flock due to privacy concerns.

ABC7 - Flock Safety operates dozens of cameras in Los Angeles County and tens of thousands nationwide.

WHERE:

WTVC - The Mt. Juliet Police Department is located in Wilson County, Tennessee.

ABC7 - The LAPD is based in Los Angeles, California.

WHEN:

WTVC - The Mt. Juliet Police established their License Plate Recognition program in 2020.

ABC7 - The LAPD's partnership with Flock lasted three years before being suspended.

WHY:

ABC7 - Dean Gialamas, the LAPD's chief information officer, stated that the LAPD had to make a difficult decision to discontinue using Flock services until data, privacy, security, and sharing concerns are addressed through a contractual relationship.

ABC7 - Dean Gialamas, the LAPD's chief information officer, stated that the LAPD had to make a difficult decision to discontinue using Flock services until data, privacy, security, and sharing concerns are addressed.

WTVC - Rep. Burchett claims Flock cameras violate Fourth Amendment rights.

ABC7 - The LAPD suspended the use of Flock services to address data, privacy, security, and sharing concerns.

HOW:

WTVC - Chief Chandler emphasized that the ALPR program in Mt. Juliet has the strongest safeguards, operating policy, and strictest retention period compared to any agency in Tennessee.

WTVC - Flock technology captures images of license plates and the location where the image was taken.

ABC7 - Flock Safety's system does not use facial recognition technology and retains license plate data for generally 30 days.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 23:18 UTC)

Rep. Burchett has claimed that the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act would prohibit federal purchasing and funding of Flock cameras, which he argues are unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Chief Chandler emphasized that the Mt. Juliet Police Department's ALPR program boasts the strongest safeguards and strictest retention policies in Tennessee. In light of these developments, the LAPD has decided to halt its use of Flock services until concerns regarding data, privacy, security, and sharing are properly addressed.

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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 19:30 UTC)

Rep. Burchett has claimed that 88% of those arrested using Flock technology were not residents of Mt. Juliet, a sentiment echoed by Police Chief Tyler Chandler, who noted that 90% of individuals arrested for theft crimes also did not live in the area. Meanwhile, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley highlighted the technology's role in locating missing persons and tracking criminal suspects, including a convicted felon involved in a high-profile case in Los Angeles. In response to concerns over data privacy and security, the LAPD has decided to pause its use of Flock services until these issues are adequately addressed, while Chief Chandler assured that Mt. Juliet's ALPR program features the strongest safeguards and policies in Tennessee.

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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 17:29 UTC)

Rep. Tim Burchett has introduced a bill called the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act, aiming to ban Flock cameras, which he claims violate Fourth Amendment rights. Meanwhile, the LAPD has ended its three-year partnership with Flock due to concerns over data privacy and security, while Flock Safety's CEO hopes to mend relations with the department. In Wilson County, Tennessee, the Mt. Juliet Police Department has utilized Flock technology to arrest 342 individuals in the first half of 2026, despite Police Chief Tyler Chandler advocating for responsible use of license plate readers.