Knox County Sheriff’s Office promises proper use for Flock cameras, despite mayor’s doubt

What This Story Is About

• Knox County Sheriff’s Office is in the process of putting cameras up around Knoxville to survey areas for crime and other investigations.

Why It Matters

• Citizens and elected officials have called for transparency into how these cameras will be managed.
• Officers outside of Knox County have already been accused of misusing Flock cameras.

What Happens Next

• KCSO has a meeting Monday, July 27, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. where these cameras will be discussed.

For Context

• Many Knox County residents have expressed their disapproval for security cameras in their neighborhoods, saying it limits freedoms. KCSO has said that it would aid in crime and missing persons investigations.

Catch Up

• The Knoxville Police Department has also asked businesses and private residences to register their own cameras for crime surveillance.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is clarifying some questions about its plans to introduce almost 300 Flock cameras in the county, a move that’s prompted criticism from Knox County neighbors and even concern from Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.

KCSO also said that they are considering putting them in public areas with high crime rates and private properties with owner’s permission.

Officials also say that the main purpose is to help in investigations in crime and missing persons.

KCSO says that the information gathered from the cameras are deleted every 30 days and no footage is stored on the cloud or databases unless it is being used for investigations as evidence.

According to officials, a person’s information is not captured only vehicle images are. We did ask if license plates would be taken pictures of, but that part of the question wasn’t answered.

Later, we asked what would happen if a camera reads the wrong plate number? Officials said that “it is all verified by sworn personnel.”

KCSO did acknowledge that “the unknown is probably the biggest fear,” but said that a “transparency and information page [is] available to answer concerns.”

According to KCSO a dedicated public facing page on their website will include information about camera locations.

These statements were made after WVLT asked for clarification on what these cameras would be used for.