Two dozen new police cameras are being installed in southwest Dallas, as part of an effort to combat violent crime and bolster public safety, officials say. The advanced cameras, made by Flock Safety, have faced criticism over privacy concerns, but officials believe they will be a “game-changer” in creating a secure environment for the community.
The cameras, which scan license plate numbers and store images for a year, are part of a broader effort to enhance security in the district. Council member Zarin Gracey, who represents District 3, announced the new cameras earlier this month, saying they will be a “milestone” in efforts to improve public safety.
The cameras will be strategically placed across the district, with the exact locations not yet disclosed, according to Yolanda Miller, a spokesperson for Gracey’s office. The cost for the cameras and licenses came out to around $158,000, according to the Dallas police department.
The new cameras are part of a larger plan to increase the number of surveillance cameras across the city. Currently, there are around 600 CCTV cameras and 550 license-plate reading cameras in use, according to Dallas police spokesperson Corbin Rubinson. Residents and businesses can also register their own cameras with the police through the city’s ConnectDallas.org website.
The Flock cameras are designed to be used by police departments, businesses, and neighborhood groups across the country, with over 5,000 communities already using the technology. The images captured by the cameras can be downloaded and shared, for example, from a neighborhood association member to a police department.
While the cameras can have benefits, they have also faced criticism over privacy concerns. In 2022, a policy and advocacy strategy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas told The Dallas Morning News that the government shouldn’t track people’s whereabouts just in case they do something wrong, and that there should be “absolute clarity” about how and where surveillance technology is used in a community.
Flock Safety, the company behind the cameras, argues that their technology is designed to “maximize public choice” and allow communities to establish public safety policies that best fit residents. The company also says that the cameras are built in a way that “maximizes public choice” and allows communities to establish public safety policies that best fit residents.
Despite the concerns, Flock cameras have faced legal challenges. A federal lawsuit in Virginia recently allowed a lawsuit to move forward, challenging the city of Norfolk’s use of Flock’s license plate reading cameras. The plaintiffs argue that the cameras are a violation of the Fourth Amendment and allow police to track a vehicle’s movement without a warrant.
The Dallas police department has used automatic license plate readers since at least 2013, and plans to increase the number of Flock cameras within the city this year. It’s unclear exactly how many will be added, but a budget accountability report from the city in September estimated 363 cameras would be deployed between October 2024 and September 2025.
In 2022, the Dallas City Council approved spending $820,000 over five years for the cameras, which covered installing and maintaining the cameras, as well as a software subscription for an online cloud storage database overseen by the company. Council member Kathy Stewart, who represents District 10, received $82,000 for the cameras, according to online records.
An August city memo shows that last year, Dallas police received a $200,000 budget enhancement for the cameras, which will be used to increase the retention period from 30 days to one year. The city was also set to receive 43 new cameras, at a cost of $2,500 per camera, as part of the enhancement.
The technology helps the city take a “proactive approach” in creating a safer community, according to Gracey’s office. “The City anticipates that this investment in advanced technology will strengthen neighborhood safety and foster a greater sense of community well-being,” the announcement said.
This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the new cameras?
A: The cameras are part of an effort to combat violent crime and bolster public safety in southwest Dallas.
Q: How many cameras are being installed?
A: Two dozen new cameras are being installed in southwest Dallas.
Q: Who is behind the cameras?
A: The cameras are made by Flock Safety, a company that provides surveillance technology to police departments, businesses, and neighborhood groups across the country.
Q: What are the concerns about the cameras?
A: Some critics have expressed concerns about privacy and the potential for the cameras to be used to track people’s movements without their consent.
Q: How many cameras are currently in use in Dallas?
A: There are around 600 CCTV cameras and 550 license-plate reading cameras in use across the city.
Q: Can residents and businesses register their own cameras with the police?
A: Yes, residents and businesses can register their own cameras with the police through the city’s ConnectDallas.org website.
