Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is calling for a special commissioners court meeting and a pause on the county's Flock Safety camera program, citing unresolved privacy and oversight gaps.
Hidalgo announced the push on her Substack on Saturday, Sept. 5, according to KPRC 2. Her call comes months after former Katy police officer Sergio Rodriguez was charged with using the same camera system to stalk his ex-wife. Because Katy straddles Harris and Fort Bend counties, a Harris County policy change on the cameras would directly affect the Katy area.
The county renewed its Flock contract on May 28 for $868,975, covering June 6, 2026, through June 5, 2027. The renewal passed 4-0, according to Hidalgo's account, with Hidalgo abstaining. She said the contract was approved without privacy parameters or oversight requirements, and that commissioners intended to add those provisions later. As of September, she said those provisions had not been added.
"The members who forced the item through owe the public answers to these questions," Hidalgo wrote.
She outlined three steps she wants the county to take: produce a clear summary of its automated license plate reader (ALPR) contracts, hold a public discussion with privacy experts, and halt the programs until oversight provisions are written into the contract. Hidalgo said discussions about Flock are taking place among agencies behind closed doors but should happen publicly.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office manages 20 Flock networks with a combined 480 cameras, estimated to be the most in Texas, according to Houston Public Media. Commissioner Rodney Ellis said in August he shares residents' concerns and that his office is working with county partners on a path forward.
The Katy connection
Fort Bend County prosecutors allege Rodriguez used Katy's Flock system to track his ex-wife from Nov. 2, 2024, through April 2, 2025. He faces two third-degree felony charges of stalking and misuse of official information. Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty. Both cases are pending in the 268th Judicial District Court.
Rodriguez was arrested May 4 after warrants were issued. Bail was set at $15,000 on each charge. Internal affairs records obtained by KHOU reportedly show Rodriguez searched his ex-wife's license plate 2,386 times over 11 months, though Covering Katy News noted it had not independently obtained those records.
Following the case, Katy police said they now conduct monthly random audits of officers and quarterly audits of every officer with Flock search privileges. The department said every search creates a permanent digital audit trail showing who searched, when and why.
Regional scrutiny grows
The Houston Police Department is also investigating certain officer uses of the Flock system for potential policy violations. Houston Police Officers' Union President Douglas Griffith told KPRC 2 on Aug. 26 that Flock itself may have flagged some officers based on usage patterns. He expected many issues to involve training rather than intentional misconduct.
Flock Safety has since added a built-in tool to flag unusual or repeated searches, according to ABC 13. Officers must now enter a valid case number before running a search.
Other cities are weighing the technology's future. League City voted to put a Flock proposition on the November ballot. Manvel Mayor Dan Davis called for a reconsideration of his city's Flock relationship, with a discussion scheduled for the Tuesday, Sept. 8 council meeting.
No date has been set for the Harris County special meeting Hidalgo requested.
