Flock Search Audit Data

High Level Summary

Time: July 7 - Aug 6, 2026

Total Search Records: 312,001, this extrapolates to nearly 3.8 Million searches a year.

Total Search Records from WPD: 48 (0.0015%) This extrapolates to 576 searches per year.

Search Records referencing an Out of State / Federal Agency or Purpose: 40 from 5 Sources

Searches by Orgs Winters does not list as approved: 28,307 (9.07%) from 107 Sources (38.35%)

Searches by Orgs Winters does not share or receive Data from: 8,754 (2.81%) from 27 Sources (10.15%)

The Good:

WPD use of Flock appears prudent, restrained, and transparent. Typically going from targeted searches to inform a wider net if necessary, before casting a broader search. In my opinion, this is not the data of an organization that is going on fishing expeditions. There is a purpose and a specific crime referenced in the data.

The Bad:

Nearly every organization type and purpose that we have said is not allowed, is observed in the data. A Fusion Center and Tribal Organization have direct access to our camera data. Federal and Out of State Agencies are getting side door access through 5 different approved partners. The purpose of the searches are irrelevant since this is specifically prohibited by state law.

107 organizations (representing nearly 40% of the total organizations searching our cameras and 10% of the total searches) that should not be able to search our camera data, are doing so. Worse, we do not appear to have any formal relationship through the Flock system with 27 of those organizations. This can only mean that the guardrails in place are incorrectly configured, do not work, the public Transparency Portal is not communicating the correct information to the public, or the Flock system is not functioning as advertised. I do not know which reason is the cause but they are all concerning.

Sources:

Audit data. This is available through a public information request for the most current time period. If you would like to see the data I was provided, email my city email and I can send it to you.

Public Transparency Portal. The list of authorized orgs for the analysis was pulled on 8/24/26.

Click the charts below to open them full size.

30 Day Search Totals

A detailed chart comparing reasons for a July flock audit on the left and organization totals on the right, including bars and numerical data for various law enforcement and jurisdiction categories. Compiled by Richard Casavecchia.
A detailed chart comparing reasons for a July flock audit on the left and organization totals on the right, including bars and numerical data for various law enforcement and jurisdiction categories. Compiled by Richard Casavecchia.

Searches by Organizations not listed as authorized on our transparency portal

Searches by Organizations not listed as authorized on our transparency portal

Bar chart titled 'Orgs We Don't Share With' showing the count of July flock audit and total search records for various organizations, with the highest counts for counties like Riverside, Sacramento, and Orange County.

Approximate Zip Code Map of All Orgs

Maps displaying California police departments that search Winters Flock system, with a list of district names and color codes on the left, and two regional maps of California on the right, highlighting different districts in various colors.

Approximate Zip Code Map of All Orgs