Eureka council rejects Flock Safety license-plate camera contract after hours of debate and public comment

Eureka City Council voted 5-0 Feb. 4 to reject a proposed two-year contract with Flock Safety for 21 automated license-plate recognition cameras after an extended public hearing that drew more than two hours of comments and repeated questions from council members.

The vote follows presentations from Eureka Police Department Chief Stevens and a Flock representative and lengthy public comment. Chief Stevens told the council the department sought the technology as a “tool to help fight our crime within our city,” and said staff had revised a draft policy after consultation with the city attorney, the independent police auditor and the City’s civilian oversight board. A Flock representative told the council that captured images and records would be encrypted “end to end.”

Supporters of the technology argued ALPR systems can quickly identify stolen or wanted vehicles, narrow searches, and reduce manpower required for some time-sensitive investigations. Chief Stevens described cases where searching scattered private camera…