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Petaluma advisory committee hears sharp public opposition to Flock ALPRs, votes to agendize council recommendation
Summary
At a Jan. 28 Petaluma Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting, police staff outlined the cityALPR program and its 30-day retention policy while more than a dozen public commenters urged ending the cityFlock Safety contract; the committee voted to add both a potential council recommendation on the contract and a future vote on the departmentpolicy to the February agenda.
PetalumaPublic Safety Advisory Committee members on Jan. 28 heard a staff presentation describing the citypolice department—s automated license plate reader (ALPR) program and then faced sustained public comment calling for termination or non-renewal of the cityFlock Safety contract.
Staff presented a "hybrid" ALPR model that combines three platforms: Vigilant for parking enforcement, one Axon Fleet 3 unit used in a DUI enforcement vehicle, and four fixed Flock Safety cameras deployed in 2025. Petaluma Police Chief Miller said the department treats ALPR data as law-enforcement evidence, retains scans for 30 days unless flagged for investigation, and requires role-based access, supervisory approval for hot lists, and mandatory training for authorized users. "Our ability to effectively police and serve our communities and maintain their trust and confidence is wholly contingent upon adherence to the rule of law and the constitution," Chief Miller said in opening remarks.
Residents and privacy advocates used the public comment period to press the committee…
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