‘DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE’: How Cops Are Trying to Hide Their Use of Flock
Police in Wapello County, Iowa, have been instructed not to mention the use of Flock, an automated license plate reader system, when arresting individuals or filing reports. The guidance is part of a broader debate about the transparency and accountability of surveillance technologies used by law enforcement. The use of Flock is widespread, with thousands of cities and towns operating the system, but policies and practices surrounding its use vary widely.
- ▪A usage policy for Flock in Wapello County instructs police not to mention the system's use to individuals or in reports unless absolutely necessary.
- ▪The policy is unusual in its explicit direction to keep Flock use secret, highlighting concerns about transparency and accountability in surveillance technologies.
- ▪The use of Flock is part of a larger issue with surveillance technologies, with some law enforcement agencies being told to be vague about their use of such systems to avoid public disclosure.
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| Original publisher | 404 Media |
| Canonical URL | https://www.404media.co/do-not-mention-alpr-usage-how-cops-are-trying-to-hide-the-existence-of-flock/ |
| Publication time | Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:23:54 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-08-04T14:25:42.014Z |
| Last seen | 2026-08-04T14:25:42.014Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
When cops use Flock to arrest someone in Wapello County, Iowa, they don’t want them to know. A usage policy for the automated license plate reader cameras in the county tells police, in no uncertain terms, to keep them a secret: “DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE,” the policy document reads. “DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE IN YOUR REPORT OR COMPLAINT UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.” The police guidance document is unusual in how clearly it tells police not to mention their Flock use, but it also highlights several important things in the Flock debate. While Flock likes to say that it is a transparent surveillance company and that it cares about “accountability” and “governance,” some of its customers believe its use should be kept secret.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at 404 Media.
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