Santa Cruz pauses FLOCK camera data sharing after illegal searches
By Zoe Hunt
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KSBW) — Santa Cruz has paused its statewide FLOCK camera data sharing after discovering that out-of-state agencies, including ICE, accessed license plate data illegally without local police knowledge, prompting community concern and reevaluation of FLOCK camera use.
Out-of-state agencies had illegal access to several California FLOCK camera databases, including those in Santa Cruz and Capitola, unbeknownst to local police.
FLOCK cameras capture the license plates of cars driving by, and a national search tool has been added without informing local police.
Capitola Police Chief Sarah Ryan said, “Capitola PD became aware of this issue only after receiving a Public Records Act request in October 2025.”
The department has since discovered that some of those searches were done for ICE.
Since February 11, measures have been put in place to prevent future occurrences, including deactivating the national search tool.
Concerns have arisen that agencies within California have also been conducting database searches on behalf of these out-of-state agencies, prompting Santa Cruz to pause all in-state FLOCK camera data sharing as of Tuesday night.
Capitola police have also paused data sharing since November 7.
With the knowledge that some searches were done for ICE, Capitola and Santa Cruz police reaffirmed that they do not conduct any immigration enforcement operations nor assist federal agencies in doing so.
Santa Cruz police reassured the public that while these searches were happening, it does not mean that agencies like ICE were actually pulling this data to use for operations. These searches were broad and happening across the country.
The city of Santa Cruz will meet again on December 9 to discuss the results of its review.
Meanwhile, FLOCK cameras are currently used by several departments across and there are 310 total on the Central Coast.
Salinas police alone have over 100 cameras across the city.
Other cities like Marina, Seaside, and Monterey each have more than 30 cameras, while Watsonville shows 20 in FLOCK’s transparency portal, and Santa Cruz has 8.
San Juan Bautista lists 3, and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office shows 12.
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