Harris County
County record. Includes every city and agency within Harris County.
Technology presence
What these categories mean
- ALPR
- Automated license plate readers (ALPR): camera systems that automatically capture, read, and log vehicle license plates with location and time, producing a searchable record of vehicle movements.
- Fixed cameras & RTCC
- Agency-operated fixed video cameras and the real-time crime centers (RTCC) that aggregate live and recorded feeds for monitoring. Extends the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Atlas, which enumerates real-time crime centers and camera registries but not standalone fixed-camera estates.
- Face recognition
- Software that matches faces in images or video against a reference database to identify or verify individuals.
- Drones / UAS
- Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), commonly called drones, operated by an agency for overhead observation, imaging, or sensing.
- Gunshot detection
- Networks of acoustic sensors that detect and locate suspected gunfire and alert an agency.
- Body-worn & dashcam
- Officer body-worn and in-vehicle dashboard cameras that record encounters; public access to the footage is frequently restricted.
- Doorbell & camera registry
- Programs that give an agency access to privately owned camera footage: doorbell-camera partnerships, citizen camera registries, and private-camera integration platforms.
- Cell-site simulators
- Devices that mimic cell towers to locate or identify nearby mobile phones. They are often called Stingrays, or IMSI catchers after the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number that identifies each phone on a network. Adjacent: communications surveillance outside the visual/sensor core.
- Predictive policing
- Software that forecasts where crime may occur or who may be involved, to direct policing. Adjacent: analytics rather than a sensing deployment.
- Social-media monitoring
- Tools that collect and analyze public social-media activity for an agency. Adjacent: open-source/communications monitoring outside the visual/sensor core.
The record, by agency
Bellaire Police Department
The Bellaire Police Department launched a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Bellaire Police DepartmentBellaire Police Department FacebookBellaire Connect
The Bellaire Police Department owns 26 body cameras and mounts from Coban Technology as of 2022, but reported problems with the system and was pursuing a new vendor.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): ChronCity of Bellaire Police Department
The Bellaire Police Department started a pilot program with 10 Flock automated license plate readers in 2020.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): CHRON.
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department operates eight Condor cameras from Flock Safety as of September 2025. The cameras are paired with video analytics software.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
The Houston Police Department uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Caldwell County
In January 2022, the Houston City Council approved a $3.5 million contract to employ Shotspotter for five years.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Houston Public MediaABC13 KTRK-TV
The Houston Police Department acquired cell-site simulator technology in 2007, according data compiled by Kevin Collier for Vocativ.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): VocativKevin Collier
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded $358,886 to the Houston Police Department in 2016 as part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance's body-worn camera grant program.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): U.S Department of Justice
The Houston Police Department merged two units—command center and the crime analysis division—into a singular, 24-hour crime center in 2008. The RTCC’s goal is “to disseminate crime information and investigative-support data to officers and investigators in the field in ‘real-time’ as an incident occurs.” The RTCC employs 12 civilian criminal intelligence analysts and 22 officers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Houston Police DepartmentChronPolice One
The Houston Police Department maintains a voluntary registry of private and personal surveillance cameras through Motorola Solutions' CityProtect platform.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): CityProtect
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Police Department
The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Police Department operates six Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of September 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
Humble Police Department
The Humble Police Department has installed 20 Flock Safety automated license plate readers, according to data obtained in July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
The Humble Police Department uses Axon body-worn cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Humble Police Department websiteABC 13Humble Police Department Facebook
The Humble Police Department operates drones.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Humble Police Department websiteClick 2 Houston
The Humble Police Department operates a camera registry via CRIMEWATCH.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): CRIMEWATCH
Webster Police Department
The Webster Police Department has installed 55 Flock Safety automated license plate readers, according to data obtained in July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
The Webster Police Department operates one drone as of 2018, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegewww.faa.gov
Galena Park ISD Security Department
The Galena Park ISD Security Department uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers, according to data obtained in July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
Rice University Police Department
The Rice University Police Department has installed 17 Flock Safety automated license plate readers, according to data obtained in July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
Spring Valley Police Department
The Spring Valley Police Department has installed 25 Flock Safety automated license plate readers, according to data obtained in July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
University of Houston Downtown Police Department
The University of Houston Downtown Police Department uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers, according to data obtained in July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
Nassau Bay Police Department
The Nassau Bay Police Department has 13 Flock Safety automated license plate readers and other cameras as of July 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock Safety
Katy Police Department
The Katy Police Department submitted a policy related to drones and the use of force to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Texas Commission On Law Enforcement
The Katy Police Department installed 22 Flock Safety automated license plate readers in 2020.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Community Impact NewspaperCommunity Impact NewspaperHouston Chronicle
The Katy Police Department spent $88,000 on 48 body-worn cameras in 2016.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Community Impact Newspaper
Harris County Sheriff's Office
The Harris County Sheriff's Office uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Caldwell County
The Harris County Sheriff's Office was in the process of finalizing the purchase of Briefcam video analytics in October 2020.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Harris County Sheriff
The Harris County Sheriff's Office purchased a facial recognition system in 2002 from Imagis Technologies, Inc.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): VisionSystemsDesignHarris County Sheriff's Office
The Harris County Sheriff's Office operates one drone as of 2016, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegeabc13.com
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office revealed its Real-Time Crime Center and Incident Management Unit in 2016, which is maintained in the Houston TranStar building. The RTCC has access to over 30 databases and is a communications and monitoring center where crime data is collected, analyzed and dispatched to patrol officers during criminal activities. The RTCC access both public and private cameras, through a program called Secure Watch. RTCC staff also have access to face recognition technology.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): PatchChronHarris County Sheriff's Office
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded $1,398,812 to the Harris County Sheriff's Office in 2018 as part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance's body-worn camera grant program.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): U.S Department of Justice
Pasadena Police Department
The Pasadena Police Department uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Caldwell County
The Pasadena Police Department owns 13 drones and 18 certified pilots as of 2024.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pasedena Police Department Website / 2024 Semi-annual reportMy Texas Daily
The Pasadena Police Department spent $940,196 on BodyWorn body-worn cameras for all of its officers in 2020, which it covered covered through a 1/2-cent sales tax collected in the Pasadena Crime Control and Prevention District designed to fund police-releated items.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The Houston Chronicle
Jacinto City Police Department
The Jacinto City Police Department uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Caldwell County
Baytown Police Department
As of April 2024, the Baytown Police Department operates 62 Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
Morgan's Point Police Department
As of April 2024, the Morgan's Point Police Department operates three Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
Memorial Villages Police Department
The Memorial Villages Police Department uses Axon body-worn cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Memorial Villages Police DepartmentMemorial Villages Police Department
The Memorial Village Police Department has installed Flock automated license plate readers as part of its "Virtual Gateway" program.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Houston ChronicleMemorial Village Police DepartmentMuckRock
The Memorial Villages Police Department operates two DJI drones as of 2018, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegewww.chron.comwww.click2houston.com
Deer Park Police Department
The Deer Park Police Department entered into a three-year contract with Clearview AI for face recognition technology in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Muckrock
The Deer Park Police Department scanned 14,235 license plates in 2019 using Vigilant Solutions automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): MuckRock
The Deer Park Police Department maintains a voluntary registry of private and personal surveillance cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Deer Park Police Department
La Porte Police Department
The Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority gave the La Porte Police Department a grant to purchase automated license plate readers in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority
The La Porte Police Department received approval to purchase Coreforce (formerly Utility) body-worn cameras in June 2021.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): City of La Porte Council Minutes
The La Porte Police Department maintains a voluntary registry of private and personal surveillance cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): La Porte Police Department
Tomball Police Department
The Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority gave the Tomball Police Department a grant to purchase automated license plate readers in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority
The Tomball Police Department purchased a drone for $21,500 in 2021.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): City of Tomball, TX
The Tomball Police Department purchased 50 L-3 Mobile Vision body-worn cameras in 2015.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Houston Chronicle
Seabrook Police Department
The Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority gave the Seabrook Police Department a grant to purchase automated license plate readers in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority
West University Place Police Department
The city of West University Place spent $4.5 million in 2019 on a Virtual Gate Security Camera System, which included the installation of 40 automated license plate readers. The project became fully operational in May 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): City of West University Place
Klein Independent School District Police Department
The Klein ISD Police Department began using body-worn cameras in 2015.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Houston ChronicleKlein ISD Police Facebook page
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport
The George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport is one of 18 airports where Customs and Border Protection is using face recognition technology as of March 2019. An executive order signed by Pres. Trump in 2019 requires Customs and Border Protection to install face recognition technology at the United States' top 20 airports by 2021.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): BuzzfeedTechCrunch
Jersey Village Police Department
In 2018, the Jersey Village Police Department signed a $312,000 contract with Flock Safety for 48 automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Chron, Houston ChronicleHouston Public Media
Harris County Constable Precinct 5
The Harris County Constable Precinct 5 operates two drones, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegewww.officer.com
University of Houston Police Department
The University of Houston Police Department uses body-worn cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The Daily CougarUniversity of Houston
University of Houston Parking and Transporation Services
University of Houston Parking and Transporation Services implemented automated license plate readers in 2018.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The Daily Cougar
Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Police Department
The Goose Creek CISD officers possessed body-worn cameras in 2016.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Goose Creek CISD
Texas Southern University Police Department
The Texas Southern University Police Department received a donation of 40 Wolfcom body-worn cameras in 2015.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Bodycamerareviews.comTSU E-News Now
Source: EFF Atlas of Surveillance (Electronic Frontier Foundation & University of Nevada, Reno — Reynolds School of Journalism) · CC BY 4.0 · retrieved July 2026