Harris County Judge candidates from left-to-right:
Vince Duncan, Marianne “Yan” Hess (both write-ins), Letitia Plummer (D), and Orlando Sanchez (R)
Ahmed Humble (Chron)
Harris County judge candidates are split over what to do with the county’s Flock camera contract when it comes back up next year.
During a University of Houston-Downtown candidate forum, Harris County judge candidates were asked whether they would renew, change or end the county’s Flock Safety contract. County records show the current renewal runs from June 6, 2026, through June 5, 2027, at a cost of $868,975.
Article continues below this ad
The candidates’ answers put the next Harris County judge in the middle of a debate that has already played out in local governments across Texas.
Supporters say the cameras help police locate stolen vehicles and suspects. Critics have raised concerns over privacy, data access and misuse. In Texas, some cities have moved to keep or renew Flock cameras, while others have cut ties or removed them amid privacy concerns.
The candidates’ responses ranged from canceling it to fixing it first. Republican Orlando Sanchez, who answered first, did not give a direct yes-or-no answer.
“The decision will be made based on input by citizens and by law enforcement,” he said before referencing his early days as a Harris County probation officer when the National Crime Information System was first introduced. “Same thing with the Flock cameras; when there are policies that are being violated, people should be punished.”
Article continues below this ad
Harris County judge candidates are split over whether to renew, change or cancel the county’s Flock Safety camera contract in 2027.
NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Harris County has already faced questions over its own contract. ABC13 reported in September that the county has paid Flock $1.3 million since 2023, while elected officials like Harris Co. Judge Lina Hidalgo, who approved the contract, still had questions about the system. Democratic candidate Dr. Letitia Plummer said she would not renew the current contract as written.
“Our communities, especially our Black and Brown communities, have a really challenging time when it comes to privacy,” Plummer said. “So the way the contract is written right now, I would not renew it.”
Plummer compared the issue to Houston’s past debate over ShotSpotter, the gunshot detection technology she said she did not support while serving on Houston City Council. She said any Flock contract would need clearer answers on data access and retention.
Article continues below this ad
“There has to be a public use policy,” Plummer said. “We have to know who has the information, who has access to the information, and how long does the information stay there. And if I got those answers, I would be open to a conversation, but the way that everything is written right now, I would cancel the contract.”
Candidates from left-to-right:
Marianne “Yan” Hess, Vince Duncan,(both write-ins), Letitia Plummer (D), and Orlando Sanchez (R) and KHOU’s Len Cannon moderating.
Ahmed Humble (Chron)
Write-in candidate Marianne “Yan” Hess also said she would not renew the contract unless privacy and misuse concerns are addressed.
“It is important to solve the crime, but we cannot have the invasion of privacy and misuse of the Flock cameras, arresting people by mistake,” Hess said. “Unless that issue is addressed, there’s some safety in place, then, yeah, that’s when I will approve that, but for now, no.”
Article continues below this ad
Write-in candidate Vince Duncan gave the clearest no.
“I would end it,” Duncan said. “We don’t want to be a society under 24 hours of surveillance everywhere we go.”
Stay informed, and entertained.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.
Duncan said the cameras risk opening the door to broader surveillance.
Article continues below this ad
“It starts out we’re doing it just for your good and then like anything else, the human element gets added to it and it becomes abuse,” Duncan said. “So, I would say we just nip it in the bud. We don’t need Flock cameras.”
For Harris County, the next decision point is already on the calendar: June 5, 2027, when the current renewal is set to expire.