Knox County commissioner pushes for transparency on Flock camera program

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A Knox County commissioner is calling for more information about the Sheriff’s Office’s use of grant money to fund automated license plate reader cameras, called Flock cameras, after residents raised concerns about the program.

Commissioner Adam Thompson brought the issue before the Knox County Commission agenda meeting on Monday, July 20 saying he had received emails, phone calls and face-to-face conversations from residents who were confused or unaware of the program.

“I’ve received multiple emails and phone calls, and had face-to-face conversations with residents who are confused, unaware, ill-informed,” Thompson said.

Grant funding and the ARCC

Thompson said some residents were unaware that a grant of more than $1.5 million — used to fund the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s new Advanced Research and Communications Center — would also serve as the home base for Flock camera footage and drone video.

There are plans for 270 camera locations across the county, according to KCSO’s Procurement Director Hugh Holt.

“You read the resolution and it mentioned nothing about cameras. It mentioned nothing about surveillance. It mentioned nothing about this. And we didn’t hear anything about it from November until June when I made a call to our procurement office who made a phone call to you all. And then we get a lengthy email,” Thompson said.

Resident reactions

Patrick Tresnan, who lives near one of the cameras, said the device was installed in front of his house about 18 months ago.

“Very much the big brother feeling. That they’re tracking anything and everything we do nowadays,” Tresnan said.

He said the camera raises privacy concerns.

“The simple fact that I have the right to my own privacy and I have someone else that I don’t know, wherever they are, constantly watching everything I do, say, come and go, whoever I see, talk to. It’s just, to me, it’s a complete invasion of privacy,” Tresnan said.

Not all residents share that view. New mother Qurstin Massengill said the cameras make her feel safer.

“As a new mom, I think there’s always that fear that something’s going to happen. You see more and more every day of like the kidnappings and, you know, sex trafficking and stuff like that. And so that’s always like a fear that is going to be stuck in any mom’s mind,” Massengill said.

Special meeting scheduled

The Knox County Commission will hold a special meeting on Monday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the Flock camera program. Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office and Flock Safety are expected to attend.

In response, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs posted a statement on his social media account.

“I have serious concerns about the rollout of Flock cameras in Knox County. I believe they are a threat to our privacy and civil liberties. Commission is holding a special session prior to their regular meeting Monday to discuss this issue, and I will have more to say as well,” Jacobs wrote.