Shasta County's controversial network of Flock license plate cameras survived its first big public reckoning on Tuesday, but just barely on probation. Supervisors voted unanimously to have Sheriff Michael Johnson come back with a fuller accounting of how the cameras work and how they are policed. If the board doesn't like what it hears, the rest of the five-year contract could be on the chopping block.
According to Shasta Scout, the board discussed possible cancellation of the contract and asked for details on the county's Flock agreement and use policy. Johnson is expected to present before the end of November. Supervisor Kevin Crye said the board should decide whether to continue or cancel based on what the sheriff presents, and urged the public to attend the next Flock discussion.
Sheriff Calls Flock His Top Investigative Tool
Johnson backs the system strongly. KRCR reports that he called the cameras his top investigative tool and said deputies do not monitor the system without cause. The station's account says they use it to support investigations involving known suspects.
Johnson also told the board, per Shasta Scout's account, that Flock data is not shared with other local agencies unless there is an active investigation. He said staff found to have misused the data would be disciplined or fired. He acknowledged he is aware of incidents involving Flock cameras nationwide, and said he is willing to discuss new restrictions for local control and oversight.
The Sheriff's Office has pointed to results since the cameras went up. In an earlier report, KRCR relayed the office's statement that the 24 Flock cameras assisted in 14 felony arrests, the recovery of four stolen vehicles and the locating of two Silver Alert subjects.
What the County Bought, and What Critics Fear
Shasta officials approved a $550,000 contract for the sheriff to install 24 Flock cameras across unincorporated Shasta using Zogg Fire settlement funds, Shasta Scout reported in a separate piece. The cameras photograph passing vehicles and make them searchable by license plate and other identifying features. KRCR notes the contract can be terminated with 30 days' notice.
Critics at the meeting raised concerns about surveillance and the future of the technology, according to the seed report. Commenters cited a stalking case in Orange City, Florida. The report also describes misuse incidents elsewhere that included former law enforcement personnel keeping their login information after leaving the force and outside agencies gaining unauthorized access.
Back home, the sheriff's side says the guardrails are real. The Sheriff's Office told KRCR that policies require deputies to have a reason to check the system and document it. Its representative Bodner said there is no facial recognition in the cameras.
A Statewide and National Backlash
Shasta isn't alone in the debate. Shasta Scout reports that dozens of California cities, including Mountain View, Santa Cruz and Los Altos, are canceling their Flock contracts over data-sharing concerns. The Los Angeles Police Department has paused its use of the cameras and is renegotiating its contract. Redding, meanwhile, operates 42 cameras with a different vendor, Vigilant Solutions, and decided against a new Flock contract because of funding limitations.
Nationally, ABC News reports that Flock Safety said it would cut its default data-retention period from 30 days to seven. The company also said cities could limit the types of offenses for which other agencies can access their data. The same report cites the Institute for Justice identifying more than 100 incidents of license plate reader abuse, and notes that six Savannah, Georgia, police employees were fired in August over alleged misuse of Flock cameras.
A Washington Post investigation reported that a former Effingham County investigator kept his Flock login after leaving the sheriff's office in 2021 and searched the system more than 60 times over the next five years. The article also says authorities arrested Andrae Wright in July and charged him with stalking his wife after alleging he misused Flock data. It reports that at least 100 law enforcement employees have been charged with or accused of misusing license plate readers.
For now, the Shasta cameras stay up. What happens next depends on whether Johnson's November presentation convinces a board that heard plenty of skepticism on Tuesday.
