(The Center Square) – Richmond could replace its Flock license plate cameras with another vendor and plans to continue using gunshot detection technology.

The mayor’s office outlined those plans in a Wednesday response to The Center Square, following Tuesday’s briefing on the city’s decision not to renew its Flock license plate reader contract.

The contract expires June 30. The mayor’s office said procurement staff will review its terms and conditions, with the goal of avoiding costs to taxpayers from nonrenewal.

Mayor Danny Avula said Richmond has not decided whether another vendor will replace Flock. The city plans to hold listening sessions across Richmond, including with residents affected by violence and those concerned about surveillance, to help decide what comes next.

Police Chief Rick Edwards said the license plate reader system will remain in place until June. He put its fiscal 2027 contract cost at approximately $285,000.

Edwards warned that losing fixed license plate readers without a replacement would affect the department’s ability to solve certain crimes. He described the technology as one piece of investigations involving vehicles, rather than something that solves cases on its own.

Avula said Henrico County’s decision to leave Flock reduced the system’s usefulness for Richmond because investigations often cross local boundaries. Growing public concern about surveillance also influenced his decision.

The license plate reader decision does not cover gunshot detection, another service Richmond purchases from Flock. Edwards put the fiscal 2027 gunshot detection contract cost at approximately $152,000.

The mayor’s office said Avula plans to continue that technology, but the city still needs to determine how best to do so. Avula said residents will be asked about both technologies during the listening process.

Edwards also described restrictions already in place for license plate reader use. Earlier this year, the department suspended all operators’ access and required them to sign an agreement covering the law and department policy before restoring it.

About 150 operators now have access, he said.

The operator agreement displayed at the briefing prohibits unauthorized searches, sharing data with federal or out-of-state law enforcement agencies, and tracking people based on protected speech. It also requires operators to confirm the accuracy of alerts before initiating a vehicle stop.

Edwards said misuse can lead to a criminal investigation and referral to the commonwealth’s attorney. Officers can also face an internal review, with discipline up to termination.

Richmond has shortened its license plate reader data retention period from 21 days to seven days. Edwards said no investigation had been affected by that latest reduction.

Avula said Richmond will also follow the General Assembly’s work on license plate readers as it considers the technology’s future.