Temple City council asks staff for report on Flock license-plate cameras after privacy questions

Mayor Mann opened the public-comment period at the council's July 29 special meeting and asked staff to return with more details on the city's use of Flock license-plate-reader (LPR) cameras after a local business owner raised privacy concerns.

Jerry Jambezian, a longtime Temple City business owner, said residents have read about other cities discontinuing the cameras and asked directly, "Are they an intrusion on privacy? Is it the people that are upset about them being photographed?" Deputy Bowie, who presented the law-enforcement summary, responded that the city and sheriff's team use Flock as a narrowly applied investigative tool and that access must be justified by a report: "We can't just look at the flock camera... we actually have to have a report that goes with it so that it justifies why we're looking at it." City Manager Mary Anne and deputy staff added that city CSO staff do not have direct access and that the city does not retain camera data beyond ordinary law-enforcement communications; staff promised a more robust report on retention and access.

Mayor Mann said the matter "warrants a thoughtful response" and asked the city manager to bring the requested information back to council at a future meeting, including retention periods and who can query the system. The council also noted the cameras are budgeted items and encouraged a clear explanation to the public about contractual and operational safeguards.