The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to have Sheriff Michael Johnson return with a presentation on the county’s Flock automated license-plate reader system before the board considers whether to end its agreement with the company.
The motion, approved Oct. 27, calls for information on the system’s results and safeguards and for a vote on ending the agreement to be placed on a future agenda before the end of November, according to the Board of Supervisors meeting transcript. The motion does not cancel the agreement, and no termination vote was taken at Tuesday’s meeting.
Johnson told the board the Sheriff’s Office uses the system to support active investigations, find missing people and develop evidence, rather than to monitor people without cause. He said misuse could result in discipline or termination. Johnson also said the office’s current retention period is 30 days, while data connected to an active case may be retained for that case.
During the discussion, Johnson said he would return with additional statistics and details about the system’s policies. He said the office could tighten or loosen its restrictions depending on the board’s direction.
Public commenters raised concerns about privacy, data sharing, potential misuse, false identification, constitutional rights and cost. Those concerns were raised during public comment and were not established as findings by the board or the transcript. Johnson defended the system as an investigative and public-safety tool and said it had helped the office solve cases, including locating an out-of-state missing juvenile who was a victim of human trafficking.
The county’s agreement remains in effect for now. The board’s next discussion is expected before the end of November, when supervisors could consider the Sheriff’s presentation and a possible termination vote.
