Tustin police to get limited access to school camera feeds

Tustin police are expected to gain limited access to selected Tustin Unified School District camera feeds by the end of 2026 under an agreement approved by the City Council, Voice of OC reported.

The agreement puts Tustin into a wider Orange County debate over police surveillance technology, privacy safeguards and possible misuse of data, according to Voice of OC.

Tustin City Council members unanimously approved the agreement at a Sept. 1 meeting, after Tustin Unified School District board members approved it Aug. 24, Voice of OC reported. The partnership is expected to remain in effect for three years unless ended earlier.

Under the agreement, selected school surveillance cameras would be connected to the Tustin Police Department’s public safety technology platform. Voice of OC reported that access would be limited to authorized police personnel for public safety purposes, including known school emergencies, 911 calls, active threats and limited criminal investigations.

Tustin Unified would decide which cameras are available during law enforcement incidents or emergencies, according to Voice of OC. The agreement does not add cameras or change where cameras are installed, and the cameras would remain the property of the school district rather than the city.

Rina Lucchese, a Tustin Unified School District spokesperson, described the access as limited. “This agreement does not give access to camera systems at all times, instead granting access only through TUSD staff in a determined circumstance.”

Some residents raised privacy concerns at the Sept. 1 meeting, including worries about surveillance misuse and possible access by federal immigration officers, Voice of OC reported. The article also noted broader concerns over Flock license plate reader cameras, including Fullerton’s six-month pause on their use and a 2026 Costa Mesa case involving a former police officer who used the city’s Flock system to stalk his ex-wife and others.

Tustin Unified’s existing rules say security camera footage is kept for 30 days to review activity when a crime is suspected, according to Voice of OC.