SFPD Catches 299 Unauthorized Federal Queries of License Plate Data

The San Francisco Police Commission's June 17 meeting opened with a bombshell: an internal SFPD audit uncovered nearly 300 unauthorized searches of the department's license plate reader database by federal and out-of-state agencies — searches that violated California law and were immediately shut down. The disclosure dominated the evening, but commissioners also advanced two modernized general orders, heard that overall crime is down 22% (even as homicides surged 70%), and learned that police recruitment applications have nearly doubled year-over-year.

• SFPD discovers 299 unauthorized federal and out-of-state queries of its license plate reader data, cuts off access immediately
• Overall crime drops 22%, but homicides jump 70% — from 10 to 17 year-to-date
• Police officer applications surge 94% to 4,083 in half a year
• DPA flags victim notification gaps and missing less-lethal weapons at critical scenes
• Commission advances first update to non-sworn complaint policy in 30 years on 6-1 vote

The basics: SFPD operates an automated license plate reader (ALPR) network through the Flock Safety platform, which captures and stores images of vehicle plates across the city. California law — including SB 34 — restricts how this data can be shared and queried. The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) is a fusion center that connects Bay Area law enforcement agencies for intelligence sharing.