Posted on 08/06/2026 6:33:57 PM PDT by lightman
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Pennsylvania State Police are still working to identify whoever has been cutting down Flock cameras throughout Franklin County this summer as a protest against the cameras is just days away.
One of the cameras, located near the Lowes off Lincoln Way E. in Chambersburg, was cut down July 4 and replaced with an American flag. Then, sometime overnight Sunday into Monday, troopers said another Flock camera was cut down off Moly Pitcher Highway in Antrim Township.
READ MORE | Cameras cut down, replaced with American flag amid Flock debate in Franklin County
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after someone cut down a pole with Flock cameras on it near a Lowes in Chambersburg, Pa., and taped an American flag onto it on July 4, 2026. (Courtesy of Austin McDannell) Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after someone cut down a pole with Flock cameras on it near a Lowes in Chambersburg, Pa., and taped an American flag onto it on July 4, 2026. (Courtesy of Austin McDannell)
State police said an estimated five Flock cameras have been vandalized in recent months, and troopers are following up on leads to identify those responsible.
Franklin County Sheriff Benjamin Sites told CBS 21 in a previous interview that the sheriff’s office itself has around three cameras, but that doesn’t count the ones privately owned by area businesses, which could put the number closer to 16.
Some residents like Austin McDannell have been outspoken against the county’s use of Flock cameras, expressing concerns over privacy, surveillance and data protection.
In response to concerns like these, Sites said, “This is a limited criminal justice investigative tool for legitimate purposes. And I think it's being made out to be this mass overreach of violating individual's constitutional right, and specifically in Franklin County, that's not how it's being used, and that's not how we ever will use the system.”
McDannell is one of two people behind DeFlock Franklin County’s “Stop The Flock” protest Saturday in Chambersburg, which is scheduled to take place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
DeFlock Franklin County wrote in a statement that it does not support criminal activity, but it also understands the historical significance of unlawful protests.
"DeFlock Franklin County has not and will not aid and abet any criminal activity. However, we also recognize that illegal forms of protest are deeply rooted in American history, dating the whole way back to the Boston Tea Party. Franklin County should understand that principle with the yearly reenactment of The Burning of Chambersburg.”
Sites told CBS 21 that Franklin County does not use Flock cameras to track faces or monitor people’s day-to-day habits. Instead, he said, the cameras are used for legitimate law enforcement purposes, such identifying license plates and vehicles connected to wanted or missing individuals. He added that only authorized personnel have access to the data collected by the Flock cameras, which is stored for 30 days.
Automated license plate readers, known as ALPRs, were used in a case recently in Franklin County to help authorities identify a man accused of taking a 14-year-old girl from her Maryland home to a motel in Chambersburg, where he allegedly raped her.
READ MORE | License plate readers help troopers ID man accused of raping girl at motel: troopers
CBS 21 asked state police if the ALPRs used in that case were Flock cameras, and a public information officer said it’s the same thing.
DeFlock Franklin County said in a separate statement that it understands these tools can be helpful for law enforcement, but that does not negate what it considers to be invasive tactics.
“DeFlock Franklin County does not ignore that ALPR cameras help law enforcement solve crimes quicker. However, that boundary is crossed when it starts doing more than just scanning plates such as collecting identifying vehicle and pedestrian attributes and logging that with time and location stamps. Again, these cameras are more than just Automated License Plate Readers.”
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Franklin County does not use Flock cameras to track faces or monitor people’s day-to-day habits.
Yet...
I watched a couple of reels on instagram that showed flock cameras pointing at the entrance and exit of a firing range. They want to know who is going in, and how long they are staying. Those cameras have nothing to do with “crime prevention” or “safety”. RESIST FLOCK!
The nearest Flock camera to me is in a tiny town. There is no way that town can afford to pay for it, and they have a single part time cop. Somebody is paying for it, maybe the state police.
If they fear cameras when will the steal them from homes with Ring door bells and stores and businesses...................
Fox & Friends News just ran a story on Flock cameras.
I noticed that most of the major cities have banned them.
There is also a hand held or police car mounted version of the Flock camera. They drive around and it reads the license plates of parked cars and enters the information into a similar AI system. This has been around for many years.
I did a search on the Flock camera map of the USA I linked above. Most of the major highways have Flock cameras monitoring all traffic.. Especially on the east coast. I-81, I-84, I-95, I-40, are all covered with Flock cameras.
Atlanta looks like it has one on every corner. Same with Los Angeles even though they are listed as banning the Flock cameras.
If these are combined with a cell tower dump, they can really collect a lot of information on people.
Many hotels and HOA’s have them as well.
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