FLOCK ALPR

The South St. Paul Police Department uses Flock Safety camera technology. These systems capture images of passing vehicles and license plates for public safety work. We use the technology for real-time alerts on hotlist vehicles and for reviewing past vehicle sightings tied to investigations.

How the System Works

We place Flock cameras at key locations throughout the city. The cameras capture still images of vehicles as they pass through public spaces. When a vehicle matches an official hotlist, such as a stolen or wanted vehicle list, the system sends an alert to our officers in real time.

We may also use the system to review past vehicle sightings. After a crime is reported, authorized staff can search captured images to identify when and where a vehicle was seen and support the investigation.

Data and Retention

The system captures license plate numbers and visible vehicle characteristics, such as make, model or color, as vehicles pass a camera. It does not identify drivers or passengers.

Captured images and associated data are encrypted from the device to the cloud and kept only for 30 days, which is the length of our approved retention period. When the retention period ends, the system deletes the data under department policy.

Safeguards and Privacy

We serve as the data controller for captured images and detections. Flock Safety acts as the data processor under our agreement. Their system encrypts images, metadata and transmissions.

Access is limited to trained, authorized personnel. Role-based permissions determine who can run searches, manage hotlists or handle administrative functions.

We do not sell or share Flock Safety data with third parties. The information is used only for law-enforcement purposes consistent with department policy.