Council Splits 4-3 on Flock Camera Contract as Crime Surge Grips Richmond

Richmond's surveillance debate reached its sharpest point yet Tuesday night, with the City Council narrowly voting to extend a controversial camera contract even as members on both sides acknowledged the company behind it had betrayed their trust — all against a backdrop of doubling shootings, a stalled police contract, and a city scrambling to replace its wastewater operator before time runs out.

• Council votes 4-3 to extend Flock Safety surveillance camera contract through year-end after discovery that a hidden "national search" feature exposed Richmond data for nearly three years

• Police union members flood public comment demanding a fair contract and the reinstatement of a decorated detective sidelined after an officer-involved shooting

• Residents cite 100% increase in year-to-date shootings, four recent carjackings, and 51 unsolved violent felony cases as evidence of a public safety crisis

• Council unanimously launches competitive procurement to replace Veolia as wastewater and stormwater operator before the 20-year contract expires in May 2027

• $1.4 million in mid-year budget adjustments approved for parks, art underpass lighting, and facilities using surplus utility tax revenue

The basics: Continued from March 3, this item asked the council to approve a transitional contract amendment with Flock Safety — the Atlanta-based company operating 188 CCTV, automated license plate reader, and drone-as-first-responder units across Richmond. Public comment had already closed at the prior meeting.