Stockton Weighs Expansion of Flock Police Drone Surveillance

City Council to consider $3.15 million contract amid privacy concerns from residents.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:25pm

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An extreme close-up of a drone camera lens reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the surveillance capabilities of the Flock drone technology.The Stockton City Council's consideration of a $3.15 million contract to expand police drone surveillance has raised concerns about the erosion of civil liberties.Stockton Today

The Stockton City Council is set to consider a $3.15 million contract to expand the use of Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) drones, which have raised privacy concerns among some residents. The drones are marketed as a "Drone as First Responder" system to assist police, but critics argue the technology enables widespread surveillance of the community.

Why it matters

The proposed Flock drone expansion in Stockton is part of a broader trend of law enforcement agencies across the U.S. adopting surveillance technologies that raise civil liberties concerns. While proponents argue the drones can aid emergency response, privacy advocates worry about the potential for abuse and overreach by police.

The details

Flock Safety's ALPR drones capture license plate data and other information that can be used by law enforcement. The company claims the technology helps solve crimes, but critics say it enables dragnet-style surveillance of entire neighborhoods. The Stockton City Council will weigh the $3.15 million contract to expand the drone program, which would add dozens of new units to the existing fleet.

  • The Stockton City Council is set to consider the $3.15 million Flock drone contract at an upcoming meeting.

The players

Flock Safety

A technology company that provides automated license plate reader (ALPR) drones and other surveillance tools to law enforcement agencies.

Stockton City Council

The governing body of Stockton, California that will vote on whether to approve the $3.15 million contract to expand the city's use of Flock's drone technology.

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The takeaway

The proposed Flock drone expansion in Stockton highlights the ongoing debate over the use of surveillance technologies by law enforcement and the need to balance public safety with civil liberties protections.