LA Mayor Calls for LAPD to Drop Flock Safety Contract

The mayor of Los Angeles is urging the LAPD to end its contract with Flock Safety, according to a report from The Washington Post. The details of why are still emerging, but the call itself signals growing unease at the highest levels of city government about how automated license plate reader (ALPR) networks are used and overseen.

Why a mayor weighing in matters

Most Flock Safety contracts are negotiated and renewed quietly, often through police department budgets or city council consent agendas, with little public debate. When a sitting mayor publicly pushes back on a police department’s use of the technology, it’s notable — it means the concerns have moved beyond activists and privacy advocates and into mainstream city politics.

What Flock Safety actually does

Flock Safety cameras are ALPR systems mounted on poles, streetlights, or mobile trailers. They photograph every passing vehicle’s license plate, along with details like make, color, and sometimes bumper stickers or other identifying features, and store that data in a searchable database. Unlike a single traffic camera, a network of these cameras can log where a car has been over time, effectively building a movement history for anyone who drives through covered areas — not just people suspected of a crime.

The core accountability problem

Supporters argue ALPRs help solve crimes and locate stolen vehicles. Critics counter that the technology sweeps up data on innocent drivers by default, that retention and sharing policies vary widely between agencies, and that data can end up shared with other police departments, federal agencies, or private entities well beyond its original purpose. In many cities, residents and even council members have found it difficult to get clear answers on who can search the data, for how long it’s kept, and what oversight exists.

What this means for Los Angeles residents

If the LAPD does end or scale back its Flock Safety contract, it would be one of the larger police departments in the country to pull back from this kind of camera network. But nothing is decided yet — this is a mayor urging a change, not a done deal. Residents who want a say in the outcome can contact city council members, attend public safety meetings, and ask direct questions about camera locations, data retention, and sharing agreements.

Curious whether ALPR cameras are already operating near you? Check our community-sourced map, learn the basics at Learn, and find concrete steps for pushing back at Take Action.

Source: The Washington Post