Documented Incident
Alexandria Police Answer City Council Questions on Flock ALPR Audits, Data Sharing and Retention
Event: September 18, 2026 · First reported: September 18, 2026 · 1 source
Alexandria Police Department released written responses to City Council questions raised at a Sept. 8 legislative meeting about the city's automated license plate reader program, which currently includes 61 fixed Flock cameras. APD said it audits all employee searches every 30 days, that 56 searches flagged for additional review over three years were attributed to issues such as missing or mistyped case numbers rather than improper use, and that it has restricted ALPR access for 12 Virginia Flock customers that cooperate with ICE. The department said a third-party audit by Ohio State criminologist Robin Engel could begin by Oct. 1, pending procurement and legal review, and that the city can end Flock service at any time despite a contract running to April 2027.
The responses offer an unusually detailed public record of how one department audits ALPR searches, handles retention and limits outside agency access — a template other councils can use when pressing for specifics. They also show the limits of self-reported audits, with independent review still pending.
Key facts
- APD operates 61 fixed Flock ALPR cameras in Alexandria.
- Data is retained 21 days unless tied to a criminal investigation, in which case it is moved to APD's digital evidence management system and is no longer accessible through Flock's network.
- APD says none of the 56 searches flagged for additional review over three years was found to involve improper or unauthorized use; the most common issue was missing or mistyped case numbers.
- APD restricted ALPR access for all 12 Virginia Flock customers that cooperate with ICE and said it is weighing further limits.
- The current Flock contract runs to April 2027, but APD says service can be stopped at any time; tentative community listening sessions were set for Sept. 24 and Oct. 7.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- APD Provides Answers On Flock Camera Uses, Data Sharing, Placement After City Questions (Patch, September 18, 2026)
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BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated September 20, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.