Cancel Conroe’s Flock Safety surveillance contract

1,278

Recent signers:
Bryan and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

I’m James Fletes, a Conroe resident and taxpayer. Since 2020, our city has quietly built out a network of AI surveillance cameras through a company called Flock Safety, without ever putting it to a real public vote or fully explaining to residents what these cameras can do. Every expansion passed quietly, and key parts of the contract remain hidden from the public even now.

These aren’t your typical license plate cameras. This is a sophisticated surveillance system connected to a nationwide network. This means that every time we drive through Conroe, our movements could be tracked and cataloged, compromising our personal privacy. The potential for misuse of this data is significant and worrisome, particularly when the community has not been properly informed or consulted on the matter.

The foundational trust between the community and its governing bodies is being eroded. As a community, we deserve to have a say in whether our streets should be lined with surveillance hardware capable of tracking innocent residents without their consent. Furthermore, the lack of transparency concerning the details of the Flock Safety contract only heightens the concern amongst residents who value their personal privacy and civil liberties.

Statistics show that the implementation of such systems does not always correlate with increased public safety. In fact, a study by the Electronic Frontier Foundation found that surveillance cameras often provide little evidence of actually reducing crime rates. Therefore, this invasive surveillance network may not be the security boon it is claimed to be, but rather, an unnecessary invasion into our personal lives.

We are calling on the Conroe city council to halt the expansion of this surveillance system immediately. We demand a full disclosure of the existing Flock Safety contract details and a public forum where residents can express their concerns and make an informed decision about the future of surveillance in our community.

Join us in urging the Conroe city council to cancel the Flock Safety surveillance contract for the sake of restoring privacy, protecting civil liberties, and maintaining the trust within our community. Please sign this petition to support this vital cause.

avatar of the starter
James FletesPetition Starter
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The Decision Makers

Conroe City Council
5 Members
3 Responded
Kristin Hoisington
Kristin Hoisington
Conroe City Council - Place 3
“To the Voting Residents of Conroe, Texas: Thank you for exercising your rights and openly sharing your thoughts with us. I deeply understand the concerns many of you have regarding the use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and Flock technologies. To address this issue fairly, we must balance these concerns with the perspectives of the many residents who support utilizing this technology as a vital tool for our law enforcement. To ensure both sides are thoroughly heard and represented, Councilman Sellars and I believe this issue is best addressed through a dedicated committee process. This forum will allow us to tackle the most complex and hard-hitting questions such as data sharing by cameras not owned by the City of Conroe. While ending the City’s specific contract remains a readily available option for the council, doing so will not alter the data-sharing capabilities of privately owned cameras, HOAs, or county-owned cameras along county-managed roadways. I have been vocal about the urgent need for state legislative guidance on this issue. The broader network of data collection is the most challenging hurdle for citizens who oppose this technology. This ecosystem extends far beyond Conroe’s municipal borders; our city lacks jurisdiction over HOA usage or private corporations utilizing ALPR for loss prevention. It is this expansive, interconnected data sharing across private and public sectors that is actively driving modern machine learning and AI components. Additionally, I want to clarify a misconception regarding the potential of inclusion in an upcoming election. Some may be led to believe that this item can be placed on the November ballot for a public vote. However, buying or managing a technology contract is considered an administrative act, meaning it is not legally eligible to be put to a public vote. Furthermore, given the significant cost the city incurs to run an election, attempting to force an ineligible item onto the ballot would be fiscally irresponsible. Our commitment is to provide a meaningful voice for all parties. We want to demonstrate to neighboring communities the value of discussing complex issues through transparent, direct dialogue with citizens. We look forward to launching this collaborative committee process, working alongside our community members, and finding common ground that respects both public safety and civil privacy. Sincerely, Kristin Hoisington Councilmember Place 3 “To Protect and Serve the citizens of Conroe and exceed their expectations.””
John Sellars
John Sellars
Conroe City Council - Place 5
“To everyone who has taken the time to express their concerns about Flock Safety, thank you for being engaged in your local government. Whether you support these cameras, oppose them, or simply have questions, one thing is clear: this is a decision that deserves a thorough, transparent, and public discussion. That is why Councilwoman Hoisington and I will be proposing the creation of a temporary Citizens Advisory Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the City's use of Flock Safety technology. The committee's purpose will not be to defend the system or to attack it. Its purpose will be to gather facts, hear testimony from all sides, and provide City Council with independent recommendations before any long-term policy decisions are made. Among the issues I believe the committee should examine are: • The measurable public safety benefits, including crime reduction and case clearance rates. • The privacy and civil liberty concerns raised by residents. • Data retention policies, access controls, and safeguards against misuse. • Constitutional and legal considerations, including jurisdictional limitations. • The City's contractual relationship with Flock Safety and any future obligations. • Whether continued participation should require additional public ratification or whether the program should be modified or discontinued. The committee's meetings would be open to the public, allowing residents, law enforcement, privacy advocates, legal experts, and other stakeholders to present evidence and share their perspectives. I believe our community deserves more than slogans from either side of this debate. We deserve facts. We deserve transparency. And we deserve a process that gives every resident confidence that this important decision was made openly and thoughtfully. Whatever the committee ultimately recommends, I am committed to ensuring that the decision is based on evidence, public input, and the best interests of the people of Conroe, not predetermined conclusions. I encourage everyone with an interest in this issue to participate in the process, attend the hearings, and make your voice heard. Good public policy is built through open dialogue, and I look forward to hearing from all sides. Kindest regards, John Sellars Mayor Pro Tem City of Conroe”
David Hairel
David Hairel
Conroe City Council - Place 1
“Thank you for reaching out and sharing the concerns of many Conroe citizens regarding Flock Camera Technology. I truly value their input. I am actively educating myself on the primary issues surrounding Flock systems. As a work in progress both nationally and at the state and local levels, Conroe is no exception. I believe we must pursue a balanced approach that protects public safety while safeguarding privacy and upholding constitutional principles. I remain committed to achieving that balance. Best regards, David Hairel [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Duke Coon
Duke Coon
Conroe City Mayor

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Petition created on July 13, 2026