Knox County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Knox County Commissioners voted Monday night to continue discussions about the county’s controversial Flock camera program, while rejecting an effort to immediately halt the use of the technology.
The unanimous vote means the issue will return before the commission in August for additional review and discussion. However, commissioners did not approve an emergency ordinance that would have immediately stopped the use of the license plate reader cameras.
The vote comes amid growing public debate about the Knox County Sheriff’s Office plan to deploy approximately 270 Flock cameras across the county using more than $1 million in grant funding.
Privacy Concerns Remain at Center of Debate
Ahead of Monday night’s meeting, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs called for a pause on the program, citing concerns about privacy, data collection and the long-term implications of the technology.
“The issue is not one or two cameras. The issue is a network of cameras,” Jacobs told commissioners. “These use AI to create a digital footprint of a car.”
Jacobs has repeatedly argued that the expanding capabilities of automated license plate reader technology have outpaced existing state and federal regulations.
The mayor has also called for stronger oversight and safeguards before additional cameras are installed or activated.
Commissioner Thompson Supports Additional Review
Commissioner Adam Thompson, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the rollout process, also voiced concerns during Monday’s meeting.
“I appreciate our sheriff’s office and I appreciate the deputies, bless them, who do a job I appreciate the heck out of,” Thompson said. “But this is not right.”
Thompson has previously argued that commissioners were not fully informed that grant funding approved last year would be used to support a large-scale license plate reader network.
He has called for greater transparency regarding how the cameras operate, what information is collected and who can access the data.
Sheriff’s Office Defends Technology
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has consistently defended the program, saying the cameras are valuable investigative tools that help solve crimes, locate missing people and recover stolen vehicles.
Sheriff Tom Spangler recently announced that installation of additional cameras has been paused while public discussions continue. Existing cameras remain operational, with the sheriff’s office stating that collected data is retained for 30 days.
The sheriff’s office maintains that the technology is used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes and operates under established policies and procedures.
Emergency Ordinance Returns in August
While commissioners agreed more discussion is needed, they declined to immediately suspend the program.
The proposed emergency ordinance that would have halted camera use and deployment remains under consideration and is expected to return during an August commission meeting.
That future discussion is likely to include additional information from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, county leaders and members of the public.
National Attention on Flock Cameras
The local debate mirrors a growing national discussion about the use of automated surveillance technology.
Last week, Congressman Tim Burchett introduced federal legislation that would prevent federal agencies from purchasing or accessing automated surveillance technologies, including Flock license plate reader systems.
Burchett and other critics argue the technology raises significant privacy concerns, while supporters say it provides important public safety benefits.
For now, Knox County’s Flock camera program remains active, but its long-term future will continue to be debated when commissioners revisit the issue next month.
