Orange County Sheriff Bobby Smith has changed his mind about joining the cities of Orange and Vidor in placing “Flock” cameras around the county.
The Sheriff released the following statement:
After a thorough review of the proposed agreement for License Plate Readers (LPRs), funding requirements, permitting process, long-term costs, staffing demands, and concerns raised by members of the community, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office will not move forward with the request for grant monies for deploying fixed LPRs at this time.
On May 26, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office requested authorization from the Orange County Commissioners Court to proceed with a grant application for the 2026 Project Safe Neighborhoods Program – License Plate Reader (LPR) Camera Deployment Project.
The purpose of applying for this grant was to provide an investigative tool using technology to enhance public safety for the citizens of Orange County. LPRs, when used for legitimate criminal investigations and public-safety operations, can assist law enforcement in identifying stolen vehicles, locating vehicles associated with wanted or missing persons, developing investigative leads, and improving officer and community safety.
OCSO’s interest in obtaining the grant for LPRs was never for any purpose other than supporting legitimate criminal investigations and public-safety operations using funds made available through an appropriation to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The proposed LPR project depended on grant funding. In addition, the proposed LPR locations were on state roadways and would have required an extensive Texas Department of Transportation approval process involving right-of-way agreements, resolutions, installation plans, insurance documentation, technical specifications, and other supporting materials.
The proposed agreement also raised concerns regarding recurring annual costs, automatic renewal provisions, advance financial commitments, and material contract terms incorporated through an online link rather than contained in a complete, fixed written agreement.
Public funds must be handled carefully. The Sheriff’s Office will not commit Orange County to a recurring financial obligation until funding, legal review, required governmental approvals, operational staffing, and long-term contractual protections are firmly established.
Because no contract has been signed and no equipment has been deployed, there is no reason to rush this decision. The Sheriff’s Office conducted a lengthy and deliberate review of the proposal.
After that review, the project was determined not to be an immediate priority. The Office can now pause, listen, reevaluate, and speak directly with residents before considering any similar project in the future.
These are the facts:
• OCSO requested authorization from the Orange County Commissioners Court to apply for the 2026 Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
• OCSO has not received grant funds or signed a contract for LPRs.
• No LPR equipment has been received, and no cameras have been installed by OCSO.
• OCSO has not incurred any financial obligation under the proposed LPR agreement.
• OCSO has not created or deployed a camera network in Orange County.
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