Fullerton pauses Flock cameras as OC cities review surveillance

Fullerton City Council voted 3-1 to turn off the city’s Flock automated license plate reader cameras for six months, Voice of OC reported. The decision came as Santa Ana delayed a similar discussion and Brea reviewed its broader police surveillance program.

The actions highlight a countywide debate over police technology, privacy and crime-fighting tools in Fullerton, Santa Ana and Brea, according to Voice of OC.

Fullerton council members approved the six-month pause Tuesday, with Councilmember Jamie Valencia voting no and Mayor Fred Jung absent, according to Voice of OC. The city uses 19 Flock cameras, and the system costs $51,000 a year to operate.

Voice of OC reported that Fullerton plans to hold a community town hall during the pause. After six months, council members are expected to compare crime rates, review Flock audit protocols and evaluate the city’s automated license plate reader policy.

Fullerton police officers began using automated license plate readers in 2007, and the city approved its specific Flock contract in 2021, according to Voice of OC. The city has spent $236,000 since 2021 to maintain and repair Flock cameras and software, and the contract runs through 2028.

Santa Ana postponed its automated license plate reader discussion to Oct. 20, Voice of OC reported. Santa Ana council members approved spending more than $700,000 combined on two automated license plate reader contracts in May 2025.

In Brea, officials discussed an Integrated Crime Center that became fully operational in July and includes drones, automated license plate readers and traffic signal cameras, according to Voice of OC. The city operates 190 intersection cameras in 17 locations, including 18 pan-tilt zoom cameras, 43 multi-sensor cameras and one drone used as a first responder.

Brea officials said city camera footage is recorded around the clock and kept for 30 days unless preserved as evidence, Voice of OC reported. Brea Police Lt. Tony Barbosa said automated license plate reader data will be kept for 10 years in a Motorola-operated cloud.

Brea officials also said the drone cleared calls without an officer present 17 times and cameras helped with arrests in nine investigations, according to Voice of OC.