News/Commentary

‘Not in my city’: NM man deemed a ‘f**king legend’ for dismantling Flock cameras

September 4, 2026 | | Print Article

The controversy surrounding Flock Safety surveillance cameras has reached a boiling point, triggering a massive nationwide backlash.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis led the way recently when he ordered the total removal of Flock cameras from state rights-of-way. An action that was also taken in late August in New Mexico, when Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen terminated three county contracts with Flock Safety, pulling the plug on their network of 21 cameras.

To help the process along, local resident Jevon Martinez filmed himself dismantling 10 Flock camera systems, which he calls “tyranny trees.” Loading the towers, cameras, and solar panels into his pickup truck, the plan was to “return” them to the BCSO’s headquarters.

“For those watching, I’m not breaking them, I’m not stealing them. I’m returning their sh*t. It’s all I’m doing,” Martinez said on video, as he dismantled a Flock camera. “Not in my city, not in my state.”

Unfortunately, the local “hero” was intercepted by BCSO deputies outside headquarters and arrested.

The 10 systems Martinez removed had an estimated value of $16,500, according to KOAT. Unfortunately for Martinez, only two of the cameras he removed were associated with BCSO, the affiliate reported. The other eight were managed by other neighborhood associations. He was booked on charges of larceny (over $2,500) and interference with communications.

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The affiliate also reported that Martinez was “arrested less than three months ago by Rio Rancho Police in connection with the removal and damage of similar license plate reader equipment” and that he “is currently facing nine pending felony charges in Sandoval County arising from the alleged removal and damage of license plate reader equipment.”

“This was not a public service. It was not authorized, and it did not help the Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Martinez took property that did not belong to him, filmed himself doing it and then attempted to turn his conduct into a heroic narrative. Ending a contract is not permission to take property. Filming yourself committing a crime does not make it legal,” Sheriff Allen said in a statement.

Flock cameras are controversial because they use artificial intelligence to log the license plate, color, make, model, and distinct features (like dents or bumper stickers) of every vehicle that passes them. This data is uploaded into a massive, searchable nationwide database, allowing users to track the daily movements of citizens without a warrant.

On the flip side, supporters argue that Flock cameras help police locate stolen vehicles, track down suspects, and find missing persons. For understaffed police departments, the cameras are seen as a “game changer.”

Responses to the story can be summed up in one post: “What a f*cking legend.” Here’s that response, along with a sampling of others, as seen on X:

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Tom Tillison
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