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Lakewood council rejects one-year extension of Flock Safety pilot after heated debate over privacy and security
Summary
After hours of testimony from staff, law enforcement and dozens of residents, the Lakewood City Council voted 3-2 against a motion to extend a one-year pilot agreement with Flock Safety for 59 license-plate readers and 10 video cameras. Supporters cited arrests and stolen-vehicle recoveries; opponents raised vendor security failures, possible federal access and contract risks.
Mayor Chase opened the adjourned Council meeting to consider a staff recommendation on a pilot agreement with Flock Safety, a private vendor that supplies automated license-plate readers (ALPR/LPR) and video cameras.
City Manager Thaddeus McCormick told the council staff's recommendation was guided by two priorities: public safety and personal privacy. He said staff had found no evidence that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other Department of Homeland Security subagencies accessed Lakewood's pilot data during the trial and emphasized that state law (SB 34 and SB 54) governs any interagency sharing of ALPR data.
Director of Public Safety York described the pilot that began in 2025 and comprised 59 LPR devices and 10 Flock video cameras deployed at high-traffic intersections. York said the pilot produced 70 notable incidents, including 45 arrests, 31 stolen-vehicle recoveries and 18 investigative leads. He told the council the cameras record a vehicle's rear image, plate read, time and location, and that data access is limited to authorized Los Angeles County…
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