FILE - A Flock Safety camera, an automatic license plater reader system, operates in Ukiah, Calif. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Flock Safety camera systems are used by law enforcement and communities to capture vehicle license plate photos to identify vehicles that are connected to ongoing criminal investigations. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News)

FORT BRAGG, CA., 11/21/25 – The Fort Bragg Police Department this week unveiled a new online portal that allows residents to see how the city’s network of seven Flock cameras is being used to combat crime — in a way that officials say does not jeopardize people’s privacy.

The system detects license plates and vehicle makes and models, but it does not scan for faces, people, gender or race. “We want people to understand these are being used legitimately and lawfully,” Fort Bragg Interim Police Chief Eric Swift said. “We don’t want people to be fearful and misunderstand our intentions for using these cameras.”

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Devon Dean is an award winning writer with years of experience in broadcast news and print.