Hazard approves agreement to add public safety cameras

Hazard’s City Commission approved a resolution June 22 to enter into a master service agreement with Flock Group Inc. for public safety cameras. The city was founded in 1884, and Hazard Fire Department protects about 7,000 full-time residents and nearly 30,000 people during workday business hours.

Flock Safety's license plate reader cameras focus on vehicles in public view, capturing plate images, vehicle images, make, model, color and other visible features that can help investigators build leads. The cameras do not use facial recognition, do not collect biometric data or driver information, and are meant for case-based public safety investigations.

Local agencies control who can access the system, every search is logged with the username, date, time, purpose and plate details, and standard retention is 30 days unless local law or a contract says otherwise. After that window, the data is hard-deleted. Cost depends on coverage area, sensor types, software package and the size of the community. Flock's product lineup includes cameras, sensors, software, response tools, installation, onboarding and ongoing maintenance in an annual subscription.

Flock does not publish a flat price for Hazard, but a February presentation by Louisville Metro Police said each camera cost about $3,000 per year, with repairs or replacements around $1,000 per device. In April, the American Civil Liberties Union warned that recent contract changes appeared to reduce cities’ control over data, and a 2026 roundup found nearly two dozen jurisdictions had rejected, canceled or terminated Flock contracts since February 2025.