Charlottesville’s Video Cameras Solved a Murder, Find a Missing Child and Others, and Recover Missing Cars— But Now They Sit Unused Over Fears that ICE Might Use the Cameras to Catch Illegal Aliens

Charlottesville’s video cameras helped solve a murder, find missing persons, & recover stolen cars, according to Charlottesville’s Police Chief Michael Kochis, but fears that ICE might use the video feed to track and catch illegal aliens caused the city to shut down their use. This news story is by CBS19 News’ Pimm Dyar from December 18, 2025 and the full video can be found there.

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Whatever concerns one has about cameras impacting people’s privacy, the objections in Charlottesville is only over the privacy implications for illegal aliens, overwhelmingly illegals who have a criminal record.

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“It’s helped us solve our homicide in the city. It has helped us recover a missing child. It has helped us recover missing people. It does help us recover stolen cars in time frames that actually have meaning,” he said.

Pimm Dyar, “Charlottesville will not move forward with the Flock Camera System,” CBS 19 News (Charlottesville, Virginia), Dec 18, 2025.

Austin, Texas had an experiment with cameras in city parks and saw a significant drop in crime.