Monterey Park police are trying to ease residents’ concerns about Flock cameras and privacy. Police discussed the controversial surveillance technology during a City Council meeting Tuesday. Monterey Park has 34 Flock cameras monitoring several intersections, and they have been in place for years. However, residents have recently raised new concerns about being watched and having their privacy violated. Police say the cameras do not continuously record people. Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese says the system captures still images of passing vehicles and records their license plate numbers. That data is retained for 30 days before being automatically deleted. The Los Angeles Police Department recently paused its use of Flock cameras, citing concerns about civil liberties and civil rights. Wiese also says California law prohibits local police from providing federal immigration officials with access to Flock camera data. Officials say the system is primarily intended to assist investigations and improve public safety.
