In East Tennessee, the question isn’t whether to kill the Flock cameras. It’s how.

PUBLISHED Aug 29, 2026, 7:26 AM ET

Opposition to Flock Safety automated license plate readers in East Tennessee has escalated from political debate into direct action, marked by vandalism, felony charges against a congressional candidate, and extreme rhetoric from an elected official. Adam Heierman, an independent candidate for Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District, faces four felony vandalism counts for allegedly shooting four Flock cameras in Blount County and Maryville between July 14 and July 22, 2026. At a Sullivan County work session on August 13, Commissioner Joe Carr suggested Flock's CEO should be "publicly hanged for treason," prompting the chair to intervene against threats of violence. The backlash reflects broader bipartisan concerns, with U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett introducing federal legislation to ban federal funds for surveillance cameras and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs calling the technology a "threat to our privacy and civil liberties." The region's debate now centers on effectively removing the cameras rather than whether to do so.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 17
Right Leaning:: 3
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 14

Explain Framing

Left: Emphasizes privacy violations, civil liberties, and government overreach concerns. Center: Balances privacy concerns with law enforcement benefits and legislative actions. Right: Highlights government surveillance threats and individual resistance to overreach.