Flock misses Aug. 18 deadline to remove cameras from El Cerrito, some vandalized, city warns the company of code violations

Despite assurances from Flock that it would remove its cameras from El Cerrito by Aug. 18, Police Chief Paul Keith told the City Council that night that 30 of the 40 cameras remain in place. Nine of the cameras have been vandalized, he said. His department has responded by launching a criminal investigation, while City Manager Karen Pinkos said the city would treat the cameras remaining in place as a code violation.

“We’ve been assured the cameras are no longer recording. Our officers no longer have access to the cameras and officers in our neighboring jurisdictions do not either,” Keith said. “For all intents and purposes, they’re just a piece of inactive technology that still belongs to a company. So please don’t vandalize the cameras.”

Pinkos followed Keith’s comments by saying, “Believe me we are just as frustrated as everyone else . . . but we want to do this the right way.”

Pinkos said she has instructed the code enforcement staff to prepare violation letters. 

“Perhaps if us calling attention to this in the media and calling attention to this in public meetings won’t work, perhaps some fines might,” she said. “Their property is up on our property and it needs to go . . . It’s been too long.”

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 Police Chief Paul Keith in a screen shot from the recording of the August 18, 2026 City Council meeting.