County hears concerns over Flock cameras

August 5, 2026

During a Moore County Board of Commissioners meeting held Aug. 4, commissioners heard public comments regarding the county’s use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras.

Throughout the public comment period, residents urged the board to reconsider automatic license plate reader technology, arguing that the network collects intrusive data without improving public safety.

A Flock camera is a motion-activated automated license plate reader (ALPR) made by Flock Safety. These cameras use AI to log license plates, vehicle makes, models, colors, and unique identifiers like bumper stickers or dents, feeding searchable data to local police and private clients.

While speaking, several residents raised Fourth Amendment and national security concerns at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Megan Spearing, an Air Force veteran and former military intelligence analyst from Southern Pines, warned that the cameras pose a direct threat to service members residing in Moore County.

She said weak cybersecurity makes the system vulnerable to foreign hackers, who could track local Special Forces personnel to build “pattern of life” intelligence.

“When I was in the military, I was military intelligence, specifically an imagery analyst,” said Spearing, sharing her perspective. “I’m giving you this information because I have a unique insight into why Moore County should not have Flock cameras, and that reason is being national security. I know that sounds alarmist and, dare I say, crazy. However, part of my duties were to identify, track, and neutralize targets … This was done with drones, CTT footage, phones, and any other resource we had available to us. If Flock had been in those countries, that would have made my life, my job, a million times easier.”

Other speakers criticized the technology for violating Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless search and seizure. One Pinehurst resident told commissioners that studies show Flock cameras fail to reduce crime rates.

In response, commissioners assured the audience that board members are reviewing all feedback before taking further action. Commissioner Kurt Cook noted that board members are conducting their own research ahead of upcoming discussions.

Board Chairman Nick Picerno announced a public work session with local law enforcement officials set for Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. at the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center.

“The public is invited at this time,” said Picerno about the meeting. “We’ll be requesting [the sheriff] to answer a lot of these questions that you have presented so that we can understand the way this works.”

Picerno instructed residents to submit specific questions to the clerk so law enforcement officers can address them directly during the session.

Feature photo via Flock Safety.

Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.

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