What are Flock cameras and how do they work?
Flock Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR) are cameras that provide actionable, objective evidence to assist in preventing and eliminating crime. The cameras take point-in-time, still images of vehicles on public roadways from fixed locations.
Our cameras are primarily solar-powered and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, over cellular networks. The cameras are motion-activated and focus on capturing images of the rear of vehicles as they pass. The end-to-end encrypted data is uploaded and stored on AWS Cloud for a standard 30 days.
For law enforcement customers, we are integrated with the National Crime Information Center, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as state hotlists so when a wanted vehicle passes by a camera in your community, users will be alerted to that vehicle in seconds. The Flock Operating System also allows users the ability to quickly and easily search for wanted vehicles by plate information or vehicle attributes.
What are they typically used for and by whom?
Law enforcement, schools, businesses, and HOAs/neighborhoods all utilize Flock’s technology to help protect their community. Flock Safety customers utilize Flock technology to help detect signs of trouble and deliver important information quickly. Schools utilize Flock technology to maintain safety of students, staff, and campuses by providing a safety net of coverage to deter and act on issues that may arise. Businesses protect their employees, customers and assets by using technology to build a virtual security perimeter, allowing for more effective monitoring and response to threats. HOAs and neighborhoods also utilize the technology to protect residents by providing management a way to bolster community safety with effective monitoring.
The majority of businesses, HOAs, and schools choose to share their information with law enforcement so that officers have quick access to information in the event of a crime or critical incident. It should be noted that non-law enforcement customers may share their information
with law enforcement; however, law enforcement cannot share with private entities and only law enforcement agencies are alerted to wanted vehicles.
How has Bartlesville Police Department utilized the system?
Most Bartlesville Flock cameras are placed on the outer city limits facing inward, with the exception of three that had to be relocated to other strategic intersections within the city.
Has BPD solved any cases or made any arrests as a result of Flock cameras?
BPD has utilized Flock in several cases including locating two children and returning them to their parents. The system has also assisted with locating homicide suspects, a rape suspect and a stolen vehicle.
Are other law enforcement agencies using Flock cameras?
Flock Safety works with thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide. The company is working with more than 50 law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma including: Dewey Police Department, Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Collinsville Police Department, Owasso Police Department, Tulsa Police Department, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.
Flock also works with agencies in bordering Kansas, including Caney and Coffeyville police departments. The company says its strong network “allows law enforcement agencies to share information with one another for quicker, more efficient responses to crime and wanted vehicles.”
It is important to note that individual customers own their data. Bartlesville Police Department is in full control of which law enforcement agencies it chooses to share data with. Our department is also able to audit all searches performed by internal and external users via the audit system.
Under what circumstances is the system used by Bartlesville police, who can access it, and what is the process?
A request will be by a certified officer investigating any misdemeanor or felony crimes. The request will go to the requesting officer’s respective lieutenant, who will either approve or deny the request. If approved, the lieutenant will provide the officer with what is being requested. All command staff members, five lieutenants, four dispatchers and one district attorney investigator have access to utilize Flock.
Are Flock cameras legal for municipalities to use?
Flock cameras are legal for municipalities to use. The company says it adheres to all state laws and is assisting in deterring and eliminating crime in 5,000 communities nationwide.
Does using Flock cameras violate the public’s right to privacy or constitutional rights?
Courts across the country have considered the legality of License Plate Readers (LPRs) and overwhelmingly upheld their use. Fourth Amendment case law clearly shows that LPR use does not constitute a warrantless search because they take photos of cars in public and cannot continuously track the movements of any individual. Appellate and federal district courts in at least fourteen states, and the 9th and 11th Circuits, have upheld the use of evidence from license plate readers as constitutional without requiring a warrant.
The Americans for Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) opposed the use of Flock cameras, whereas numerous law enforcement agencies say the cameras are an important tool in to fight crime and protect the public. Where do the Bartlesville Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 117 stand on the issue?
The Bartlesville Police Department and the Fraternal Order of Police agree with other law enforcement agencies in believing Flock is a great tool to fight crime and protect the public. Our district attorney has publicly expressed his support for the system as well.
Are children safe where Flock cameras are in use? Can their images be captured on video?
Flock ALPR cameras capture still images focused on vehicles; Flock ALPR does not record video footage. It is possible that a person may be captured in a still image; however, there is no way to search or filter for a person in the Flock system.
Does BPD have any knowledge of children being harmed as a result of Flock camera usage?
No, Bartlesville Police Department does not have any knowledge of children being harmed from the usage of Flock cameras. In fact, Bartlesville Police Department has experienced the opposite and has utilized Flock to safely return two children back to their parents.
How does Flock Safety’s ALPR help promote transparency and objectivity in policing?
ALPR provides objective evidence, reducing human bias. A recent study showed that using speed cameras rather than people to issue tickets removes racial bias in ticketing. Over 60 percent of wrongly convicted individuals found to be innocent by the Innocence Project were wrongly convicted due to eye witness misidentification. ALPR can also help address the problem of eye-witnesses bias. Unlike human observers, Flock Safety cameras are designed to capture data without recording personal attributes such as race, gender, or sexual orientation. Instead, they collect information like license plate numbers, vehicle characteristics, and direction of travel — data points that are visible to any observer but neutral in nature. This approach is intentional. By focusing on objective information, Flock cameras do not engage in any form of judgment or assumption based on appearance, which is often where biases originate in human interactions. The data collected is, therefore, free from discriminatory practices that could otherwise result from subjective observations. By keeping human judgment out of the data collection process, Flock cameras promote an environment where public safety is prioritized without compromising equity. Public safety technology, when implemented thoughtfully and with adherence to legal standards, provides a powerful tool for enhancing public safety without exacerbating bias.
Flock Safetyʼs approach to data collection — centered on objective information — aligns with both legal precedents and ethical best practices, offering an unbiased and effective method for law enforcement and businesses to prevent and address crime. As public safety technology continues to evolve, Flock will continue to prioritize creating solutions that respect privacy, uphold constitutional rights, and minimize bias. Through the responsible use of technology, we can shape safer communities for everyone. Lastly, Flock offers a Transparency Portal feature which allows agencies to share policy and use information with their community. An example of this can be found here: Osage County Sheriff’s Office Flock Transparency Portal.
How long is the footage stored and how is it securely stored?
Bartlesville Police Department follows Flock’s recommended standard data retention of 30 days. We agree with the company that this provides investigative value while also safeguards against the collection of vast amounts of data over long periods of time. Flock also requires any agency wishing to extend data retention past 30 days to get the approval of an elected body or representative to do so. This allows the public and policy makers an opportunity to decide what is best for their community. Data retention may also be reduced; however, many law enforcement agencies note loss of investigative value.
Bartlesville Police Department, like Flock Safety, takes data security very seriously. While no personal information is contained within the Flock system, every precaution is taken to protect your data. All data is stored on the AWS Cloud and is end-to-end encrypted. For more information regarding data security, please visit Trust Center and Trust Report.
How many Flock cameras are in the City of Bartlesville?
Bartlesville has 10 cameras that are strategically placed throughout the city.
How many frames per second do the LPR cameras capture?
Flock Safety cameras capture somewhere in the range of 6-12 images of a vehicle per session. When a car drives by, the camera will rapidly capture it entering and exiting the camera frame.
What is a hot list?
Flock cameras have an integration with the FBI NCIC, a database of known wanted vehicles. That means when a camera detects a wanted car, an alert automatically will go to local law enforcement.
Why does license plate recognition matter?
Flock Safety LPR cameras really help solve crime. On average, 2,200-plus crimes are solved each week with the help of Flock Safety technology.