Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's suspension of state funding for Flock cameras may not affect Wichita Falls' latest award for more of the cameras.
City spokesman Chris Horgen said Wichita Falls was awarded $254,166 on Aug. 4 by the state for the Flock and Drone First Responder program.
Horgen said an ordinance has been filed to accept the award, which requires a 20% cost match of $50,834.
Abbott paused state funding of the controversial cameras on Aug. 27.
A Texas Tribune article on Aug. 28 said Abbott's pause came as cities and counties began canceling contracts with Flock over privacy concerns and reports of misuse.
The Tribune said Abbott pointed to a Lufkin police officer who faces 100 counts of misusing public information, and six police departments and sheriff's offices across Texas announced officers were being placed on leave, investigated or criminally charged over misuse of the cameras.
The city of Wichita Falls has 47 Flock LPR cameras in operation, according to Horgen.
He said the city received its first 12 cameras in November 2023 through a grant from Federal Homeland Security.
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Purchase of the cameras has gone before the City Council on several occasions.
March 19, 2023: Councilors approved purchase of 12 Flock Safety Automated License Plate Recognition cameras for $69,500.
Sept. 3, 2024: Councilors voted to apply for a $114,417 grant to buy up to 36 cameras "to deter vehicle thefts, identify suspects in vehicle burglaries and prevent catalytic converter thefts."
May 22, 2025: Councilors approved the application to the state for $305,000 for the Flock and Drone First Responder program which includes a "smart" drone that can get to scenes faster than police units or firefighters.
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While the Texas Department of Transportation has 14 freeway cameras and dozens of traffic signal regulator cameras in Wichita Falls, TxDOT spokesperson Adele Lewis-Brauer said TxDOT cameras are not Flock cameras.
"We have cameras to monitor traffic on our freeways. They are not recorded," she said.
The Texas Tribune article said Abbott's pause order came as the Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation that showed the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority devoted at least $30 million to build a statewide Flock surveillance network through grants to local police departments.
The Tribune said the funding came from a 2023 state law that added $1 to Texas auto insurance policies to combat catalytic converter theft.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: How does Gov. Abbott's pause on Flock cameras affect Wichita Falls?