VISALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Presentation
Flock
Automated
License Plate
Readers
September 21, 2026
Visalia Police Department
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Timeline
Myths vs Facts
Success of the Program
Safeguards
Visalia Police Department
Timeline
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
City Council accepts the 2023 JAG Grant and approves funding to purchase ALPR cameras.
City Council awards a four-year sole-source contract to FLOCK.
City Council accepts and appropriates the 2024 JAG Grant to continue funding FLOCK.
Researched available ALPR providers and technology.
November 6, 2023
October 21, 2024
January 21, 2025
2023 - 2024
December 20, 2024
13 ALPR cameras are operational.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Flock cameras track people.
Flock cameras do NOT watch people or track where they go. They simply capture an image of a vehicle as it passes a fixed camera location. The images are not routinely reviewed. A trained and authorized officer must conduct a search, and every search must be related to a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
MYTH
FACT
Capture vehicle images at a fixed camera location.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Flock cameras collect personal information about every driver.
The cameras record a vehicle's license plate, a photo of the vehicle, its color and make, the date and time, and the camera location. They do NOT collect your name, address, date of birth, driver's license information, or other personal information. The system identifies vehicles in public spaces, not people.
MYTH
FACT
VEHICLES. NOT PEOPLE.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Police can search the system whenever they want.
No. Every search is recorded, including who searched, when they searched, and why they searched. Only trained and authorized employees can use the system, and all searches can be reviewed to ensure they follow department policy.
MYTH
FACT
Every search leaves a record.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Police can see where everyone is in real time.
No. The Visalia Police Department does NOT use Flock Live cameras. ALPR cameras are not GPS trackers. They only record when a vehicle passes a fixed camera. If a vehicle never passes a camera, there is no record. Flock cameras take pictures of vehicles and vehicle license plates only when they pass a camera.
MYTH
FACT
A vehicle is recorded only when it passes a camera.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
No one checks how the system is used.
The system is regularly audited on a weekly basis. Searches are reviewed to make sure they follow department policy. Any suspected misuse is investigated, and policy violations may result in disciplinary action. The Flock system is also equipped with built-in auditing mechanisms to alert the agency administrator of any suspicious search activity, excessive searches by a single user, etc.
MYTH
FACT
Use of the system is monitored & reviewed.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
The data is kept forever.
The system only maintains data for 30 days, at which time the data is automatically deleted – unless a vehicle is entered onto a “hotlist” as wanted for a specific crime, missing person, or specific investigation and in those instances, must be attached to a specific case number. Flock has recently changed their standardized retention period from 30 days to 7 days.
MYTH
FACT
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Flock sells our information.
No. The City of Visalia owns the data collected by its cameras and does NOT sell it. The information can only be used for legitimate public safety and law enforcement purposes.
MYTH
FACT
City-owned data. Public safety use only.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
The cameras automatically issue tickets.
No. ALPR cameras do NOT issue citations. They can alert officers when a license plate may be connected to a stolen vehicle or another legitimate law enforcement notification. Every alert must be verified by an officer before any enforcement action is taken. A Flock “hit” is only an investigative lead that then requires officers to further develop probable cause or confirm any “hits” before taking any kind of enforcement action.
MYTH
FACT
The camera may generate an alert, but an officer determines what happens next.
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
The Police Department isn’t being transparent.
The Visalia Police Department believes the community deserves to know how this technology is used. Residents can review our Technology Transparency webpage, attend City Council meetings and provide public comments. We believe public safety and privacy can go hand in hand through responsible policies, accountability, and open communication.
MYTH
FACT
https://transparency.flocksafety.com/visalia-ca-pd
View VPD’s Technology Transparency Portal
Visalia Police Department
Myth vs Fact
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
These cameras don’t help solve crimes.
Since implementing ALPR technology, the Visalia Police Department has used it to recover stolen vehicles, arrest wanted suspects, and develop important leads in criminal investigations.
MYTH
FACT
ALPR technology provides investigative leads that help officers solve crimes.
Visalia Police Department
Stolen Vehicle Statistics
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Stolen Vehicles
2026 - YTD
125
Stolen Vehicle Arrests
2026 - YTD
48 % Stolen Vehicle Arrests
2026 - YTD
38%
Stolen Vehicle & Stolen Vehicle Arrests by Year
11%
13%
18%
18%
29%
38%
FLOCK Alerts
6,495
Stolen Plates
0 Non-Owned Custom Hotlist Alerts
0 Custom Hotlist Alerts
190
Stolen Vehicles
20 Felony Vehicles
2025
2026 - YTD
4,819
2,356
720
107
7 FLOCK Associated Arrests
2025
2026 - YTD
Stolen Vehicles
84 37
Felony Vehicles
20 7
Visalia Police Department
Stolen Vehicle Statistics
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Visalia Police Department
Safeguards
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Organization and Network Audits
Network Sharing
306 Law Enforcement Agencies
338 Camera Networks
Only Sharing with California Law Enforcement Agencies
Share Request Process
Conducted Weekly
Single-User Plate Searches
Searches Beyond 30-Days
Repeated Searches
Flock- Automated License Plate Readers
Thank you.
Questions?