Loudon County Sheriff Jimmy Davis is gathering more community input before deciding whether to install Flock license plate reader cameras countywide, following a tense public meeting where every attendee opposed the technology.

During Monday night’s meeting, a moderator asked who supported the cameras, yielding zero responses. When asked who opposed them, the entire room raised their hands.

Sheriff Davis acknowledged that while the automated readers are advanced and effective tools for solving serious crimes—such as kidnappings—public concern over privacy remains high. He noted that his office is exploring strict guardrails to prevent rights violations, though he admitted those measures might not satisfy the skeptical public.

Assistant Chief Deputy Chris Hutchens also addressed the crowd, pushing back against the common phrase “if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t be worried about it.”

No final decision was made. Sheriff Davis stated he hopes to find a common ground that balances law enforcement needs with community privacy rights. The debate in Loudon County mirrors similar controversies over Flock cameras in Knoxville, Knox County, and Clinton.