Flock Safety Technologies

A Message from the Chief of Police

The Burbank Police Department has used Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology for over a decade. In recent years, fixed-location cameras were piloted in areas of the city experiencing significant theft and repeat victimization. The pilot program proved to be highly effective in identifying repeat offenders and stopping crime trends. Based on these results, the broader deployment of ALPR cameras was included in the FY 2024–2025 budget process, under the Department’s Agreements and Contracts List, with a not-to-exceed amount of $150,000.

The system is funded through the PD budget. There is no dedicated staffing or monitoring associated with it. Flock Safety technology (Flock) has significantly streamlined investigative work, saving hundreds of manual investigative staff hours. There is misinformation associated with recent articles on the web, which give the impression that the appropriate privacy controls are not in place and that departments are sharing information with ICE. Attached to this message for reference is a letter from the CEO of Flock addressing Data Ownership and Sharing, and additional safeguards that ensure every agency that can use Flock does so in accordance with local laws and community values.  Additionally, below are bullet points and links that will provide additional information to the questions received to date:

• The data is not shared with ICE, Border Patrol, or any federal agency for immigration enforcement, consistent with City policy and state law.

• • Setting the Record Straight: Statement on Flock Network Sharing, Use Cases, and Federal Cooperation

• • Ensuring Local Compliance

• • The FOIA request Shares.pdf was related to our prior Vigilant system, which no longer exists. In 2023 DOJ made us aware of a vulnerability within the system, informing agencies that we may be sharing data with ICE. Once the department received the letter, we were out of compliance, so we immediately deactivated those features.

• ALPR data is encrypted (AES-256): Information collected by the ALPR cameras is protected using one of the strongest encryption methods available. In addition, the system storing the information follows internationally recognized security standards (ISO 27001).

• The manufacturer adheres to CISA “Secure by Design” principles: The company that makes the ALPR system designs its equipment and software with

cybersecurity as a priority from the start. This approach follows federal guidelines from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

• • Response to Compiled Security Research on Flock Safety Devices

• The system, retention, and access are regularly audited by the Department on a yearly schedule.

The use of the fixed-location ALPR system, in the short time it has been active, has led to the recovery of over 80 stolen vehicles, hundreds of arrests for other criminal violations, and numerous cases being solved (and crimes being prevented) that otherwise would not have been.

Also worth mentioning is that Flock sells its systems to private companies and organizations. For those entities, their camera networks operate independently unless they choose to share their data with the Police Department. We do not have visibility or access to private networks unless the data is explicitly authorized. Currently, only Home Depot, Lowe's, and the Toluca Lake HOA have purchased Flock cameras and have opted to share their data with us.

The Burbank Police Department is committed to protecting community members from criminal activity and uses available technology to enhance this ability.  We continually evaluate the efficacy of this technology and any potential negative impact it may have.  Searches for vehicles through the ALPR database are done in conjunction with active criminal investigations and are regularly audited by the Department and the system administrator. 

I recognize the community’s concerns about the potential for misuse or abuse of the ALPR technology.  There are multiple systems in place to ensure that our use of this highly effective tool is done within the bounds of the law and policy.  No technology replaces proactive policing or community partnerships.  However, ALPRs are meaningful investigative tools that help bring offenders to justice and ultimately reduce victimization across our community. We will remain attentive to community feedback and continue providing information and education about how the City’s ALPR program operates, the safeguards in place, and the steps to protect privacy.