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North Richland Hills, a Fort Worth-area city, initially estimated that it would cost $2.3 million to fulfill a public-records request about its police department’s use of Flock Safety cameras. The figure was an estimate—not a confirmed final charge or payment—and the city had not confirmed a revised amount after the requester narrowed the request, according to The Texas Tribune’s October 5, 2026 report.
Why did North Richland Hills estimate $2.3 million?
The city said the estimate covered staff time to review communications that may be legally required to be examined before release. The Tribune reported that the invoice used a labor rate of $15 an hour and described the material for review as nearly one terabyte of communications related to errors, misuse, and the effectiveness of Flock cameras.
That is the city’s stated rationale, not independent confirmation that the estimate or its underlying calculation was correct. The available reporting does not establish how the city arrived at the total or provide an itemized calculation.
What happened after the request was narrowed?
The requester, Phil Mynona, who uses a public pseudonym and filed on behalf of the Texas Privacy Coalition, later narrowed the request. A police-department post said the amended request was expected to cost significantly less. But the city did not tell the Tribune what the revised amount would be, so the new estimate and the request’s current status remain unconfirmed.
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The Tribune reported that Mynona had sent nearly identical requests to almost 200 law-enforcement agencies. He said Sealy provided more than 400,000 pages without charge; that is his comparison as reported by the Tribune, not an independently established like-for-like comparison of agency costs.
What did the city and requester say?
North Richland Hills Police Chief Jeff Garner told the Tribune, “As far as this latest record request, we always strive for transparency.” He also said, “Our use of [license plate readers] adheres to these community principles and honors our commitment to pursue justice for victims of crime.” These statements describe the department’s position; they do not verify the cost estimate or resolve questions about its camera practices.
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Mynona called the initial estimate an outlier. The Tribune quoted him saying, “This is a crazy outlier, I think the highest that we received in some amount was [$5,000] from Victoria, Texas, and at the time, I thought that was ridiculous.” The comparison reflects his account of responses to his requests, not a controlled comparison of identical scopes and review requirements.
What information can Flock cameras collect?
Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras capture license plate numbers and other vehicle identifiers, including a vehicle’s make, model, bumper stickers, and dents, according to the Tribune. Officers can query thousands of cameras owned by hundreds of agencies at once.
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That broader capability does not establish the details of North Richland Hills’ own system. The Tribune reported that camera locations, retention periods, and search frequency are unknown in many Texas cities unless departments disclose them. The available reporting does not confirm those specifics for North Richland Hills.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does a Texas public-records request work?
The Texas Public Information Act provides a process for requesting government information. The City of Houston’s public guidance says requests must be written and seek information that already exists. It also explains that the Act does not require a city to create new information, compile data, conduct legal research, or answer questions.
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That guidance is general process information, not a legal determination about whether North Richland Hills calculated this estimate lawfully. The available reporting does not answer that question.
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What would clarify the cost and the camera practices?
The key unresolved details are the revised estimate after the request was narrowed and the documentation behind the original figure. The Tribune reported that the city did not provide a revised amount when asked. An itemized labor calculation, the amended request’s scope, and the city’s current response status would help explain the estimate.
For readers comparing responses from different agencies, the request scope and time period matter. A useful comparison should distinguish estimates from final charges and account for review volume, stated labor rates, narrowing or waiver options, records produced or withheld, and any legal review. The reporting does not establish a like-for-like comparison across cities.
Local contract terms can also differ. For example, a Wharton Post report on Wharton’s Flock agreement said the city owned its data, allowed specified service-related uses and authorized law-enforcement sharing, and required automatic deletion after 30 days. Those are terms reported for Wharton—not evidence of North Richland Hills’ policies.
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