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LAPD Lets Flock Contract Expire as Audits and Misuse Heighten Scrutiny

The decision risks wider rollbacks of license‑plate camera use after watchdog reports false alerts, security gaps, and alleged officer abuse.

Overview

  • The LAPD allowed its three‑year contract with Flock Safety to expire on Saturday and has paused use of some Flock pole cameras while it seeks stronger terms on privacy, data ownership, and sharing.
  • An LAPD Office of the Inspector General audit found the department’s ALPR systems produced more than 210.5 million plate reads in a two‑month sample, led to 337 recoveries but also recorded 161 alerts later shown to be false stolen‑vehicle matches.
  • The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested and charged five former Albany officers for alleged misuse of Flock license‑plate data after an investigation that traced improper queries to individual accounts.
  • Reporters and researchers have documented misreads that prompted wrongful high‑risk stops, and security reviews have shown exposed camera feeds and weak account protections that raise questions about who can access the data.
  • The OIG has urged pausing new ALPR deployments and tightening audits and access controls, the LAPD is negotiating new contract language, and Flock says it hopes to resolve concerns and resume partnerships.