A review of data collected by the Pasadena Police Department through Flock camera automated license plate readers shows the department’s data was focused on ‘known vehicles.’
About 70% of searches were for a particular license plate, meaning officers were looking for a specific vehicle already connected to an investigation.
“The remaining searches were broader and used vehicle descriptions, such as color, make, or type, rather than a specific license plate,” said Teresa Magula, independent police auditor, in a memo to the Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC).
The CPOC will review an audit of the Flock camera program Thursday.
These types of searches were used much less often and generally occurred in situations where a vehicle was involved in a crime, but the license plate was not known.
Overall, the pattern shows that the system is primarily used in a focused way to support specific investigations, rather than for broad or exploratory searches, according to the audit.
The AI-enabled cameras are commonly mounted on poles at intersections and freeway entrances to scan passing vehicles, track license plates and log vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color into a shared police database.
Critics claim the data can be shared by the federal government and used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the audit, the city’s data was not accessed by federal officials.
Local officials have questioned the use of the cameras and where they are placed across the city.
The majority of the cameras are in District 3 in Northwest Pasadena.
In March, Councilmember Justin Jones questioned the placement and protections against misuse.
“There’s a heavy concentration in District 3, when it could be spread out,” Jones said. “I’m no expert, but it seems like it could be spread out to prevent someone from getting on the 210.”
A case number must be used to enter the system and police said immigration authorities have not accessed the city’s data.
The review comes as the city expands its use of Flock Safety cameras following the receipt of grant funding for additional units.
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