Lassen County Sheriff John McGarva issued a public statement on Friday addressing mounting community concerns regarding the recent implementation of Flock Safety cameras throughout the county.
The Sheriff’s Office currently operates 13 Flock cameras placed in strategic locations across Lassen County. According to McGarva, the technology was adopted as part of the department’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of local residents.
However, as questions regarding privacy and surveillance circulate among community members, the Sheriff sought to clarify exactly how the cameras are used—and how they are not.
What Flock Cameras Are Used For
Sheriff McGarva emphasized that the 13 cameras are proactive investigative tools designed specifically to combat serious criminal activities. The technology is utilized to provide law enforcement with actionable leads in cases involving:
- Human trafficking
- Missing persons
- Stolen vehicles and property crimes
- Drug and weapons trafficking
- Other felonious offenses
What They Are Not Used For
In an effort to ease public anxiety, the Sheriff’s statement explicitly outlined the limitations of the system, noting that the cameras are not designed for routine traffic enforcement or citizen surveillance.
“We want to be clear: These cameras are not used for traffic enforcement purposes—such as speeding, expired registration, mechanical violations, or minor infractions,” McGarva stated. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office clarified that the cameras do not take photographs of vehicle occupants and do not possess facial recognition capabilities.
How the Technology Works
The Flock system works by capturing license plate data and specific vehicle characteristics. This data allows deputies to quickly identify suspect vehicles, track vehicle movements relevant to active investigations, and receive real-time alerts for Amber Alerts, stolen vehicles or known threats.
Addressing privacy concerns regarding the captured data, the Sheriff’s Office stated that all information is securely stored and is only accessible to authorized law enforcement personnel for investigative purposes.
Legal Compliance and Community Context
Sheriff McGarva assured residents that constitutional protections are being fully respected. The statement noted that legal advisors and partner agencies have reviewed and affirmed that the use of this technology complies with both state and federal guidelines, including the Fourth Amendment protecting against unlawful searches and seizures.
McGarva also contextualized the technology as a “natural extension” of existing safety measures, pointing out that surveillance cameras are already widely used by private businesses, homeowners and in public spaces across Lassen County.
“This is not a step toward unnecessary surveillance,” McGarva said, describing it instead as “smart policing” that assists deputies in solving crimes, rescuing vulnerable individuals, and keeping the county safe. “At the end of the day, our top priority is—and always will be—to protect the citizens of Lassen County. Flock cameras are simply another tool that helps us do that more effectively and efficiently.”
The Sheriff’s Office concluded the statement by reaffirming its commitment to transparency, integrity and accountability, inviting any residents with questions or looking for more information about the Flock cameras to contact the department directly.
