# Flock cameras in Needles

Needles / Flock · September 20, 2026.

An automated license plate reader (ALPR) saves a vehicle’s plate, time and location for later searches. A car does not have to match a police alert to be recorded. [1]

## What the Needles record says

Needles City Council approved the Flock proposal on October 22, 2024. [2]

- Cameras in the quote: 4
- Storage in the quote: 365 days
- Paid over two years: $29,000

Four is the proposal count. City check registers show $15,800 paid to Flock in February 2025 and $13,200 in February 2026. [7, 8] The operating inventory and current retention remain unverified. [3]

## Who is responsible?

The quote names the City of Needles as customer, and the City paid from its state COPS fund, which state law reserves for police services. [9] San Bernardino County Sheriff provides Needles’ policing. The signed agreement and its terms remain unverified. [2, 3, 4]

## Useful leads. Privacy risks.

Mountain View, California, reported stolen-vehicle recovery and a missing family found safe with Flock’s help. Its audit also found outside access contrary to its intended setup. [5]

Savannah, Georgia, police reported firing six employees after finding misuse, including searches involving acquaintances and family. [6] These are agency reports about other cities; they do not establish Needles’ outcomes or misuse.

## What residents can ask

Who can search our records, how long are they kept, and what results justify the cost?

Ask Needles City Council about funding and upcoming decisions; ask San Bernardino County Sheriff about access, audits and operating rules.

Official contacts and meeting links: https://needles.remixit.cc/civic-options

## Sources

Links work in a saved PDF. Find these records online at https://needles.remixit.cc/sources

1. California State Auditor · ALPR oversight
   https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2019-118/summary.html

2. Needles Council minutes · October 22, 2024 · p. 4
   https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/needlesca-meet-1a89346830bf454193321cec101bca68/ITEM-Attachment-003-f450281b6c8f44049462a71c730688fb.pdf#page=4

3. Needles proposal and quote · pp. 143–145
   https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/needlesca-pubu/MEET-Packet-cd5c88c472d746a39f9b3515f0a9d6f8.pdf#page=143

4. San Bernardino County Sheriff · Needles station
   https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/patrol-stations/needles/

5. Mountain View report · pp. 12–15
   https://mountainview.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=f5cbe7bc-8074-463c-aa0a-f3b198235e12.pdf#page=12

6. Savannah Police · August 2026 finding
   https://savannahpd.org/savannah-police-department-terminates-six-employees-following-investigation-into-misuse-of-flock-safety-system/

7. Needles check register · February 2025 · p. 14
   https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/needlesca-meet-c4302671f58d4685946e8adf3f059ba3/ITEM-Attachment-001-6cc5198394994b9e91789af16ee02722.pdf#page=14

8. Needles check register · February 2026 · p. 17
   https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/needlesca-meet-f78bb093399241f0858bdbc383916262/ITEM-Attachment-001-103b9ddfe393446b89bad31cb09cabf1.pdf#page=17

9. Needles mid-year budget · Fund 225 · p. 4
   https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/needlesca-meet-c4302671f58d4685946e8adf3f059ba3/ITEM-Attachment-001-c4662f55a0ed4136a91bd14267dec8a8.pdf#page=4

Independent public information. Not affiliated with Flock Safety or any government agency.
Map, records and updates: https://needles.remixit.cc/