El Cerrito issues compliance order demanding Flock remove cameras within 10 days

From KTVU: Aug. 23 fatal shooting in El Cerrito revives Flock debate

From El Cerrito Police: Arrest in Aug. 23 homicide “Investigators collaborated with regional jurisdictions to identify a license plate for the suspect vehicle, thanks to Flock Safety and Vigilant ALPR cameras.”

At the Aug. 18 El Cerrito City Council meeting, City Manager Karen Pinkos announced that Flock’s failure to remove its cameras from the city by that date as it had promised would be treated as a code violation. In response to a request from El Cerrito Wire for more information, assistant to the city manager Will Provost sent the following on Aug. 21:

“Yesterday, on August 20, 2026, the City of El Cerrito issued a Compliance Order to Flock Group, Inc. pursuant to El Cerrito Municipal Code sections 1.14.040 and 13.12.050(A)-(B), providing formal notice of the City’s revocation of encroachment permits that were previously issued, and notice that Flock must discontinue all activity previously authorized by the permits and remove all remaining Flock hardware and associated equipment from the public right-of-way and public infrastructure, and restore each affected location to its prior condition.

“There were initially 40 Flock Falcon hardware devices located in the City of El Cerrito. Flock established with the City that August 18, 2026, was its absolute and final deadline to remove all hardware from these locations. However, as of August 20, 2026, 30 cameras had not yet been removed. After receiving this Compliance Order, Flock must immediately remove all remaining equipment within 10 days. If Flock fails or refuses to complete the required work, the City will begin to issue citations, or perform, or contract for the work and recover from Flock the City’s actual costs, to the extent authorized by law. As such, the City is demanding Flock immediately remove all installations and restore the affected public rights-of-way and infrastructure to their original condition no later than August 30, 2026.”

The council voted May 5 to cancel the city’s contract with Flock and the cameras were shut down June 6. But community members have told the city they don’t feel comfortable with the cameras remaining in town.

Image: El Cerrito City Manager Karen Pinkos in a screen shot from the recording of the Aug. 18, 2026 City Council meeting.