MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Murfreesboro residents packed the city council chamber during a public comment session Thursday (August 13th) to challenge local leaders over the city's expanded contract for automated license plate readers (ALPR), also known as flock cameras.

Resident Pamela Jones told council members that citizens do not consent to continuous surveillance, urging the council to do the right thing and cancel the contract...

Tensions escalated when Mayor Shane McFarland, responding to Jones' comments, then had to ask an out-of-order speaker to leave the chamber after outbursts directed at elected officials and law enforcement officers...

Resident Zoe McDowell, during her time at the podium, also asked the council to reconsider the system so citizens themselves can decide the issue at the ballot box...

After hearing from residents, ALPR's weren't discussed by council members until the end of the meeting during other business. 

McFarland stated that while the city welcomes public input, council meetings must maintain respect and decorum. He added that the city will not allow individuals to shout obscenities or direct personal insults at police officers...

Councilman Austin Maxwell condemned personal attacks against police officers...

Vice Mayor Bill Shacklett noted that officials must continually balance public safety with personal privacy, encouraging citizens to call council members directly to discuss their concerns...

Under Tennessee state law, automated license plate readers capture moment-in-time images of vehicle license plates that must be purged within 90 days, though standard system defaults purge unflagged data after 30 days unless retained for an active case. Flock Safety plans to shrink that default retention window to seven days nationwide by January 1st, 2027, alongside mandatory case number requirements for every system search.

WGNS plans to host upcoming on-air radio forums featuring residents, elected officials, and police. Community groups wishing to submit their positions on LPRs to WGNS can do so here.

Audio from the public comments about flock cameras before the City Council meeting and comments from some members of the council at the end of the meeting under other business: