Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Commissioner Adam Thompson are calling for an immediate halt to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s plan to install nearly 300 license plate-reading cameras, citing serious threats to constitutional liberties and public privacy.

The Sheriff’s Office intends to deploy 270 Flock cameras across the county, funded by a $1.5 million grant that was originally approved to target violent crime in specific high-crime ZIP codes. Flock cameras capture and create searchable databases of vehicle images and license plates, data which the Sheriff’s Office states will be retained for 30 days.

Privacy and Transparency Concerns

In a joint statement released Monday, Commissioner Thompson emphasized that while he strongly supports local law enforcement, the surveillance technology requires “meaningful oversight, and complete transparency.”

Key issues raised by the county leaders include:

• Expanded Scope: Thompson noted the $1.5 million grant was presented to the commission last November as targeted funding for specific areas, not as a blanket, countywide camera network.

• Unapproved Locations: Cameras have already been surprisingly installed in areas like Corryton and Mascot—ZIP codes that were not identified in the original grant.

• Data Safeguards: Leaders are demanding immediate clarity on exactly what information is collected, who has access to it, and what safeguards exist to prevent its misuse.

“This technology erodes the privacy and constitutional liberties of Knox County residents,” Thompson said. “At this time, I do not believe this technology has a place in Knox County.”

What Happens Next

A special Knox County Commission meeting originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the Flock camera rollout in depth was abruptly canceled. However, the commission is still slated to convene for its regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening.