DeFlock Elk Grove increases pressure on Mayor Singh-Allen, city council over ALPR cameras

Although only one significant hearing item is on tomorrow night's Elk Grove City Council meeting agenda, a local activist group could still draw extensive public comment if it succeeds in its effort to fill the city council chambers. That hearing is an information presentation by Elk Grove Police Chief Bobby Davis about the city's use of, and adherence to, laws governing automated license plate readers (ALPR).

That group, DeFlock Elk Grove is urging residents to speak out against the Elk Grove Police Department's use of Flock cameras, one of many so-called ALPRs, and demand their removal. DeFLock Elk Grove is part of a nationwide, decentralized, bipartisan citizen movement opposing the ALPR cameras, which police say solve crimes but critics say are invasive and violate, among other things, the Fourth Amendment.

The group is directing much of its pressure toward Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, and her four city council members. Singh-Allen effectively controls the four council members and therefore has the influence to end the city’s Flock contract and prevent the Police Department from replacing the cameras with ALPR technology from another company.

At the council’s Aug. 26 meeting, 21 people spoke during public comment on non-agenda items. All opposed the surveillance cameras and urged the city to cancel its Flock contract.

DeFlock is trying to fill the council chamber again Wednesday. The group is encouraging residents to comment twice — during the general public comment period and after the Police Department’s presentation under Agenda Item 9.1.

The group said city officials have not responded to multiple requests for a meeting to discuss findings from its community audit. Based on public records, DeFlock alleges Elk Grove police have violated California law governing ALPR data, including restrictions on sharing information with agencies outside the state.

Its audit also found that about 97% of searches involving Elk Grove’s system came from outside law enforcement agencies.

Police dispute allegations that their ALPR practices violate state law and say policies, training and oversight protect constitutional rights and privacy.

Amid the negative attention, police have posted a series of social media messages defending ALPRs as crime-fighting and public-safety tools.

In one post, police said ALPR data helped identify an SUV connected to an August robbery in which about $20,000 in property was stolen. The vehicle was stopped in the Bay Area, and the property was recovered.

Police also said an ALPR detection helped officers find a missing woman with dementia who had been sleeping in her vehicle for three days.

The post generated sharply divided comments.

Keona R. expressed unequivocal support, writing that the only people opposing the cameras are criminals or those planning to become criminals.

Alvaro G. acknowledged the technology’s usefulness but questioned round-the-clock data collection, access by outside agencies and the involvement of a private company.

Art E. sarcastically suggested placing cameras in government offices and neighborhoods where public officials live, saying officials who are doing nothing wrong should have nothing to hide.

The conflict is unlikely to disappear after Wednesday’s presentation. Opposition to ALPR networks has become a bipartisan national movement drawing civil libertarians, conservatives and progressives.

Much of the political pressure from this citizen insurgency will fall on Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, who effectively controls the city council and can therefore greatly influence whether to end the FLock and other ALPR contracts. Although Singh-Allen faces no reelection challenger this year, continued criticism over mass surveillance will become political baggage if she seeks to climb the political ladder beyond Elk Grove and toward Washington, D.C.