New York City police officers accessed Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader system for investigative purposes despite the New York Police Department (NYPD) never having formalized a contract with the company, according to an analysis of public data and statements from civil rights groups and the police department. Between March 2023 and December 2025, at least two dozen officers conducted more than 1,700 license plate searches through Flock’s national database, which includes data collected from a network of 120,000 cameras across the United States.

Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company, provides automated license plate recognition technology that alerts law enforcement agencies when vehicles of interest are detected. The NYPD used the system on an ad hoc basis after representatives reportedly offered officers free trial access. The department stated that the searches were predominantly conducted by officers in units such as the auto crime unit, highway collision division, and the Queens district attorney’s office. Officers reportedly searched the database for vehicles suspected of involvement in crimes such as theft, hit-and-run, homicide, sex trafficking, and for wanted persons.

While the NYPD confirmed that some officers used Flock’s technology, it emphasized that the department never installed or owned Flock cameras and that no executive-level NYPD officials authorized the use. Access to the platform was granted informally, and the department said it did not violate any rules or policies, although the exact approval process remains unclear. A policy adopted in June now requires supervisors to obtain permission from the first deputy commissioner before engaging vendors, which would include companies like Flock.

The department ultimately chose not to implement Flock’s system, citing an existing contract with Vigilant Solutions, another license plate tracking provider. Vigilant Solutions holds a three-year, $565,000 contract that began in 2025. The city administration reviewed Vigilant’s contract earlier this year amid concerns that federal immigration authorities might access information from its database, but concluded that the NYPD complied with local laws barring cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Civil rights organizations raised privacy concerns regarding the informal use of Flock’s technology. The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project and LatinoJustice highlighted that officers occasionally left the justification field for searches blank or filled it ambiguously, making it difficult to assess the purpose of some queries. They also noted that surveillance tools like Flock have faced backlash nationwide, with some municipalities terminating agreements over fears of misuse and mass surveillance.

Law enforcement officials maintain that license plate readers, including those operated by Vigilant Solutions, have been instrumental in solving crimes, such as locating stolen vehicles and identifying suspects in serious offenses. Nicholas J. Sofokles, a recently retired detective who used Flock during the trial period, confirmed the system’s usefulness while asserting it was used solely for official purposes. James Essig, who served as chief of detectives until August 2023, said he was not aware of the trial but acknowledged that testing new technologies can aid investigations in a city extensively covered by surveillance cameras.

The civil rights groups have requested additional information from the NYPD about their interactions with Flock, which officers had access, and what training was provided. They called for increased transparency to ensure accountability and clarify how the police track vehicles and, by extension, individuals across the city. The NYPD has stated that no data from its internal systems was shared with Flock or other jurisdictions during the trial period. Flock Safety did not respond to requests for comment.