Harris County’s renewal of an $868,975 contract with Flock Group Inc. is drawing renewed attention as concerns about privacy, data access and the use of automated license plate reader technology continue to grow across the Houston area.

Harris County Commissioners Court approved the one-year contract renewal on May 28, 2026. The agreement runs from June 6, 2026, through June 5, 2027, and provides the county with Flock’s license plate reader and sound detection technology. County records identify the system as a tool for detecting vehicle information and sounds including gunshots, screeching tires and breaking glass.

The contract has drawn criticism from Dr. Letitia Plummer, the Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge, who is calling for additional safeguards governing searches, data sharing, audits and the retention of information collected through the system.

Plummer argues that Harris County should establish a published policy specifying when searches of the system are permitted, require an independent annual audit that is made public, restrict the sharing of Harris County data with outside agencies and impose a strict retention limit. Her concerns come as Flock Safety faces increased scrutiny following allegations of improper use of its technology by law enforcement officers, including a case in the Houston area.

In Pasadena, former Sgt. Michael Palitz resigned while under investigation following allegations that he improperly used the department’s Flock license plate reader system to track a female officer. Palitz later surrendered his Texas Commission on Law Enforcement peace officer license through an agreement with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in lieu of criminal prosecution. The department has not publicly released the agreement or additional details about the case.

The Pasadena Police Department said one of the criminal matters was referred to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which declined prosecution. The other was resolved through an agreement requiring the individual to surrender his Texas Commission on Law Enforcement peace officer license in lieu of criminal prosecution. The department did not publicly identify which matter was associated with the license surrender.

The specific allegations involving Palitz’s alleged use of the Flock system have not been independently verified, and Pasadena police have not released the confidential administrative investigation.

The Pasadena case comes amid broader scrutiny of Flock technology and allegations of improper law-enforcement searches in several jurisdictions. Recent reporting has documented cases in which officers allegedly used Flock systems for personal purposes, raising questions about safeguards governing access to the databases.

Flock Safety announced new privacy and accountability measures Aug. 13 following months of public criticism and reports of misuse.

Under the changes, law-enforcement customers will be required to implement Flock’s Audit Assistance tool by the end of 2026. The tool is designed to identify abnormal search activity for administrative review. Law-enforcement searches will also require case codes, with exceptions for certain emergency situations.

Flock is also recommending a seven-day default retention period for automated license plate reader data, down from its previous 30-day default. The change does not automatically impose a seven-day limit on existing customers. Agencies can maintain their locally approved retention policies, while Flock’s Evidence Mode allows specific information connected to active investigations to be preserved.

The announcement comes after Harris County renewed its agreement in May. Whether Harris County will incorporate the new measures into its policies or impose additional requirements remains a matter for county officials.

Plummer is also urging Harris County to use the contract’s termination provision as leverage to seek additional protections from Flock or consider ending the agreement.

Residents have separately raised concerns about the county’s use of the technology. On July 9, residents appeared before Commissioners Court and asked officials to cancel the Flock contract, citing concerns about surveillance, privacy and the potential exposure of personal information.

Plummer has previously challenged the use of public-safety technology. In 2022, while serving on Houston City Council, she voted against the city’s ShotSpotter contract. Her current criticism of the Flock agreement centers on the need for clear rules governing surveillance technology and accountability for its use.

The debate does not eliminate the investigative role that license plate readers can play for law enforcement. Instead, the current discussion focuses on safeguards surrounding information collected by the systems, including who can conduct searches, what constitutes an authorized search, how information can be shared and how long it remains available.

Harris County's Flock agreement remains in effect through June 5, 2027. Flock's new accountability measures are expected to be implemented by the end of 2026, leaving county officials to determine whether additional local policies or contract changes are necessary.