Sheriff Rob Hardwick defended the St. Johns County Sheriff's Department use of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras during a budget hearing Tuesday, while county commissioners are considering a moratorium on the technology. The debate centers on privacy and public safety tradeoffs.
On 16–17 September 2026, St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick defended the office's use of Flock Safety license plate readers at a budget hearing, citing crime-solving successes. He disclosed that neighborhoods and homeowners associations in the county operate at least 100 additional readers independently.