La Puente hears Flock Safety and LASD defend license-plate reader program amid data-sharing concerns

Hector Soliman Valdez of Flock Safety and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department representatives told the La Puente City Council on Jan. 27 that the city's license-plate reader (LPR) system is a law-enforcement investigative tool and that the city owns the camera data while LASD serves as custodian.

Valdez, Flock's director of municipal engagement, said the company deploys its LPR technology in thousands of communities and that, “All of the data is owned, by the city of La Puente and and, the custodian is LASD.” He added that Flock has automatic deletion set to 30 days and that the company does not sell or independently share the municipal data.

Captain Glenn Emery of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department described several local investigations where LPR hits helped detectives. Emery and his detectives gave examples including copper-theft inquiries and an incident they said linked a stolen vehicle across county lines; Emery said the system is used reactively to locate vehicles involved in reported crimes.

During the presentation LASD and Flock staff described operational safeguards: searches require a report number and an audit trail, and Flock staff said devices are certified to standards the company cited as NDAA-, SOC 2- and ISO-27001-compliant. A LASD detective told the council that searches are logged and must include a NIBRS code and a search reason, and that unauthorized access is a misdemeanor.

Several residents used the public-comment period to press for additional transparency and independent auditing. One resident, Samuel, told the council it is "proven, it's irrefutable that local law enforcement in Southern California has shared automatic license plate reader information using the flock safety system with immigration officials," and asked where audits and access logs are stored. Another speaker, Christian, urged the city to reconsider the program, saying the cameras have not prevented crime and questioned whether the city can enforce safeguards against secondary sharing.

Supporters also spoke. Frank Sanchez said he had seen stolen property recovered with camera evidence and urged the council not to remove the system, noting the city is a sanctuary jurisdiction and that local officers have not engaged in immigration enforcement.

Council members and the mayor acknowledged community concerns and emphasized oversight. The mayor said he had originally supported installation for public-safety reasons and urged the council to work with staff and counsel on continued safeguards and transparent reporting. LASD reiterated that state law restricts sharing with federal immigration enforcement except by subpoena or court order.

No ordinance or resolution regarding the LPR program was introduced or voted on at the meeting. Council took no formal action on the presentations; the meeting proceeded to oral communications and later business.