Princeton mayor wants to reconsider use of Flock cameras bought with state grant
Princeton does away with Flock cameras
Although they just received Flock cameras from a state grant, the city of Princeton has become the latest city to do away with them. FOX 4's David Sentendrey has more.
PRINCETON, TEXAS - The mayor of Princeton is asking his city to become the second Collin County city to say no to Flock cameras. The choice comes as reports surface about how much Texas has spent building its Flock surveillance network.
No Flock cameras in Princeton
What we know:
Princeton, a town 50 minutes north of Dallas in Collin County, recently received six Flock cameras. Mayor Eugene Escobar Jr. said he was recommending to city council to reconsider their use.
"I'm not seeing an avenue for them to be here," Escobar Jr. tells FOX 4's David Sentendrey.
Unused Flock cameras
Escobar Jr. was once in favor of the cameras, which can read license plate numbers and other vehicle details before uploading them into a database that can be accessed by law enforcement agencies.
Princeton's Flock cameras were approved in a state grant process by its city council in 2025. Now, Escobar Jr. has changed his mind on them.
"There's a lot of safety concerns with these cameras, so I want council to reconsider their vote," Escobar Jr. explained. "We don't know if somebody in Utah, in New York, is looking at residents here."
Eugene Escobar Jr.
Law enforcement agencies have argued that Flock cameras better help them solve crimes.
Kenneth Feagins, a member of the anti-Flock camera group DeFlock DFW, says that doesn't justify their use.
"Solving crimes, however, is not a justification for mass surveillance on millions of innocent people," Escobar Jr. said.
Flock camera concerns in North Texas
Wylie votes to end Flock camera usage
The City of Wylie became the latest municipality in North Texas to end their contract with Flock cameras as a nationwide debate grows over privacy concerns. FOX 4's David Sentendrey has more.
Dig deeper:
Princeton would be the second city in Collin County to decide not to use their Flock cameras.
On Tuesday, Wylie City Council voted unanimously to end its Flock cameras contract. Wylie currently has six Flock cameras, but they will cease use after the city's contract with Flock ends in October.
In addition, Hood County voted to remove the three Flock cameras under its jurisdiction earlier in August. Dallas County has had issues with vandalism and damage to the over 600 Flock cameras it uses.
"We shouldn't have to worry about our government surveying us like it currently is," Feagins said
Abbott pauses Flock camera funding
Big picture view:
On Friday, the Texas Tribute reported that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - AUGUST 15: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in the State Capitol on August 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins held a press conference discussing the
Abbott's order came as the Tribune was preparing to report that Texas has spent $30 million on building the state's Flock surveillance network through state grants to local police departments.
That same grant is how Princeton funded the Flock cameras the city now will not use.
What's next:
Escobar Jr. says he will add a debate to an upcoming city council meeting about Flock cameras.
The Source: Information in this story comes from the City of Princeton, the Texas Tribune, and previous FOX 4 reporting.