San Diego Surveillance: Council set to suspend Flock cameras

The San Diego City Council is on track to vote Monday to end its use of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader technology. A seventh council member signaled support Friday for a temporary suspension of the system, securing the six votes required for a veto-proof supermajority. Mayor Todd Gloria stated he will not override the decision if it passes.

The shift in council sentiment follows an internal affairs review that revealed potential misuse of the surveillance database. Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, chair of the Public Safety Committee, announced her support for an immediate pause on Friday. She cited reports that the technology was deployed outside the parameters of the city’s oversight policy. Von Wilpert, who was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, described herself as troubled by these recent findings.

Mayor Gloria confirmed his position in a written statement, acknowledging a decline in public confidence regarding the program. He stated that while the city established strong privacy safeguards, those measures alone were insufficient to maintain trust. The mayor indicated he would respect the council’s decision and refrain from using his veto power, noting that the loss of public trust could not be ignored.

The specific incident prompting the review involved an internal investigation into a San Diego police officer. The officer had begun a sexual relationship with an alleged domestic violence victim he was investigating. An internal affairs detective used the Flock database to check the license plates of both the officer and the victim. The goal was to determine if their vehicles had been in the same area simultaneously. The officer later admitted to having sex with the woman while on duty.

Councilmember Raul Campillo, who announced his support for a suspension on Thursday, said the misuse by the police department influenced his decision. He stated that using the system to surveil a member of the public and a police officer called the entire program into question. Campillo added that his previous support for the technology had never been unconditional. His announcement joined those of five other council members who had already indicated opposition to the program.

The city maintains 500 surveillance cameras with automated license plate reader technology attached to streetlights across San Diego. The system records the plate number, make, model, color, and distinguishing markings of all vehicles in view. This data is stored in a searchable database and retained by the police department for 30 days, or longer if used in an active investigation.

Police Chief Scott Wahl has defended the technology as a critical public safety tool. He stated that the system has been implemented with strong safeguards and has assisted in solving more than 900 cases. However, opponents have argued that the sweeping nature of the surveillance threatens civil liberties and creates opportunities for abuse. The dispute has intensified in recent months as scrutiny of the program has increased.

A police spokesperson, Ashley Nicholes, rejected the allegation of misuse on Thursday. She asserted that investigating specific allegations of officer misconduct falls within the authorized uses of the city’s automated license plate reader system. Nicholes noted that internal affairs investigators have used the database in six misconduct investigations. Von Wilpert said she supported using the technology to investigate police misconduct and prevent serious violent crime, but said the lack of communication about its use broke her trust.

Four council members on the Budget Committee voted unanimously in October to end the city’s $2 million contract with Flock. Councilmember Stephan Whitburn also announced last month that he no longer supported the cameras. Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Henry Foster III are expected to join anti-Flock activists for a news conference Monday ahead of the vote. They are urging the city to remove the cameras and keep them removed.