What It Takes to Clear a Million Crimes a Year with Flock Safety's CEO - The a16z Show Recap
Podcast: The a16z Show
Published: 2026-03-11
Duration: 1 hr 47 min
Summary
Garrett Langley discusses how Flock Safety revolutionizes crime solving through technology, enabling law enforcement to respond to incidents in real-time and significantly increasing clearance rates of crimes.
What Happened
In this episode, Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock Safety, shares the story of how he developed the technology that now helps law enforcement agencies clear over a million crimes annually. Initially motivated by a personal experience with crime in his Atlanta neighborhood, Langley created a camera system to track vehicles entering the area. This innovation transformed from a neighborhood project into a scalable solution, resulting in the deployment of Flock Safety's technology in over 6,000 cities across America, incorporating features like drones and AI integration.
Langley highlights the shift in policing that Flock Safety facilitates, moving from a reactive model to a proactive one. Instead of focusing on historical crime data, law enforcement can now address crime as it happens in real time. He emphasizes that most criminals are not inherently evil but are often driven by opportunities presented in their environment. The conversation also touches on the societal impact of crime on communities and the importance of collective safety measures, rather than solely individual security systems.
Key Insights
- Flock Safety's technology allows for real-time crime response, significantly reducing police response times.
- The majority of crime is opportunistic rather than a product of inherent evil.
- Community-focused safety systems are more effective than individual security measures.
- Flock Safety has evolved from simple license plate readers to a comprehensive safety platform.
Key Questions Answered
How did Flock Safety begin?
Garrett Langley recounts the inception of Flock Safety, sharing that after a gun was stolen from a car in his neighborhood, he found the police response lackluster. Frustrated by the lack of action from local authorities, he decided to take matters into his own hands by teaming up with a friend to build a camera that could track license plates. This project, initially a neighborhood initiative, soon grew into a full-fledged business after they successfully helped police solve crimes by providing crucial evidence.
What technologies does Flock Safety provide?
Flock Safety's offerings have evolved significantly since their initial product. Langley describes how they started with license plate readers and expanded into a more sophisticated suite that includes drones, 911 integration, and an AI layer that transforms city safety into a real-time operating system. This technological advancement allows law enforcement to respond to crimes more effectively and efficiently.
What is the impact of Flock Safety on crime rates?
According to Langley, Flock Safety has helped clear just over a million crimes in the previous year alone. He emphasizes that while crime rates are important, the clearance rates matter even more, as they reflect the effectiveness of law enforcement in solving crimes. Flock Safety’s tools enable police to identify and act on current criminal activity rather than relying solely on historical data.
What community impacts does crime have?
Langley discusses how crime affects communities beyond just those who are directly victimized. He notes that a single violent act can instill fear in residents, impacting their sense of security and quality of life. Flock Safety aims to address these broader concerns by promoting community safety as a collective responsibility, rather than focusing on individual security measures that may not account for neighborhood dynamics.
How does Flock Safety change policing strategies?
Langley points out that Flock Safety’s technology shifts policing from a reactive approach to a proactive one. Law enforcement can now focus on where crime is actively occurring, rather than where it has happened in the past. This fundamentally changes how police resources are allocated and allows for a more agile response to criminal activity as it unfolds.