In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the authorization for the city manager to enter into a municipal facility license agreement with Flock Safety for the installation of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras on city streetlight poles. This initiative is funded through a grant from the California Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program, administered by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Chief Hendrick provided a historical context, noting that the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014 raised the threshold for petty theft, leading to a significant increase in theft-related incidents across California. In Ventura County alone, victims reportedly incur approximately $10 million in losses annually due to organized retail theft, cargo theft, and vehicle-related crimes. In response, the state established the organized retail theft prevention grant program to bolster local law enforcement efforts.

The grant, which commenced on October 1, 2023, and runs through June 1, 2027, has facilitated the formation of the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force. This task force comprises personnel from various local law enforcement agencies and is tasked with addressing organized retail theft and related crimes throughout the county.

The ALPR cameras, specifically the Flock Safety Falcon series, will be strategically placed around Moorpark, with 15 cameras designated for the area. These cameras are solar-powered and designed to capture vehicle license plates and descriptors without recording images of drivers or passengers. The data collected will be retained for one year and will be purged thereafter, with access limited to authorized law enforcement personnel.

The city of Moorpark will incur no costs associated with this project, as all expenses are covered by the grant. The agreement also ensures compliance with California regulations regarding data security and access, particularly concerning the California Values Act of 2017, which restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The city council is expected to approve the agreement, marking a significant step in enhancing local law enforcement's capabilities to combat organized retail theft and improve public safety.