3 cities in California's Bay Area to continue using controversial Flock camera system

Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News on Mar 19, 2026

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BRENTWOOD, Calif. — While others in the Bay Area may have ended or are reviewing contracts with Flock Safety cameras over privacy concerns, three East Contra Costa County cities said they will continue using the controversial surveillance technology.

Police departments in Brentwood, Antioch and Oakley say they have been using the automated license plate recognition cameras to help solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles or locate suspects.

The Brentwood Police Department said it had “no intentions” of stopping its use of Flock cameras. The department was “pleased” with the changes made by the company in safeguarding its sharing capabilities, said Lt. Michael Thompson.

The department noted that Flock has incorporated tools that revoke out-of-state sharing, disable sharing with federal agencies, and filter out immigration and reproductive care searches on its platform.

“All these features are enabled,” Thompson told this news organization. “Furthermore, Brentwood PD Policy states, Brentwood Police Department will not share ALPR data with federal or out-of-state agencies.”

Thompson said the department’s efforts were in compliance with the California Civil Code.

The Brentwood Police Department also conducts internal audits as well as reviews with Flock’s customer success team.

The city has utilized Flock license plate readers since April 16, 2025, and currently has 62 devices across the city. The system cost $113,550 in its first year, which included installation, with an annual recurring expense of $105,000.

Flock cameras have helped the department with more than 100 investigations, resulting in about 25 case closures involving robberies, thefts, outstanding warrants and missing persons, said Thompson.

Many cities in the Bay Area have grappled with concerns that the cameras could be used for federal immigration enforcement crackdowns under the Trump administration.

Santa Cruz terminated their contract in January after discovering Flock data was accessed by out-of-state agencies.

In February, the Mountain View City Council voted to end its contract with Flock after an audit discovered unauthorized access by federal agencies in 2024.

Earlier this month, the San Jose City Council approved measures to tighten restraints over its 474 Flock cameras.

Antioch Police Department, which has been using 13 Flock cameras since September 2025, said the department has “multiple police administrators” that manage access and that a specific California-only sharing setting is used to ensure data does not leave the state.

“We do not provide to any out-of-state agencies, period,” said Lt. Bill Whitaker.

Whitaker said the department is also working on a transparency portal with Flock.

“I’ve seen it, and it works very well. We’ll put up a link when it’s up and available on our city website and you can click into that link and see anybody that we’re sharing with,” said Whitaker.

The department said the system cost $49,000.

Oakley Police Department has been operating five license plate reader cameras since 2021, costing the city $12,500 per fiscal year.

Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard said the department conducted an audit in 2025 to ensure it was not sharing data with anyone other than state agencies.

“If an agency sends a request for us to share data, we determine the geographical location of the requestor(s) and we only allow sharing permissions to California agencies,” said Beard. “The usage of Flock cameras have been very beneficial in locating vehicles that have been used in the commission of crimes and in locating those vehicles we have also been able to make contacts with persons of interest or suspects, and those contacts have led to some arrests and successful prosecutions.”

Pittsburg has “no plans” to ink a contract with Flock, said Police Chief Steve Albanese.

The department has an existing license plate recognition system, which it purchased from a different vendor years ago.

Albanese said the department maintains “complete control over any external connections.”

“We complete annual audits of our connections with allied agencies, are not connected to any federal or out-of-state agencies, and are fully compliant with SB 34,” said Albanese, referring to California Senate Bill 34, which was passed in 2015.

The bill prohibits state law enforcement agencies from sharing license plate recognition data with agencies outside of California.