In the previous year, the police surveillance firm Flock Safety brought on board Ulises Cabrera, the mayor of Moreno Valley, a California city with a population exceeding 200,000, to advocate for its products. However, Cabrera now alleges in a lawsuit filed against Flock in November 2024 that he was unjustly terminated, asserting that this was partially due to his refusal to leverage his mayoral role for Flock’s benefit.
Supported by Andreessen Horowitz, Flock has achieved a valuation of $3.5 billion, bolstered by its sales of license plate recognition technology throughout the U.S. (The company has also recently ventured into drone technology.) This lawsuit raises serious questions regarding the interactions between private entities and public officials.
Flock firmly rejects Cabrera’s allegations, stating that the hiring of a presently serving mayor is in accordance with California’s conflict-of-interest statutes. As of the time of publication, Cabrera had not provided any comment to TechCrunch.
The lawsuit, which was initially reported by the surveillance-focused outlet IPVM, indicates that Cabrera served as a Community Engagement Manager for Flock from February to June 2024. Cabrera, who has held the mayoral position in Moreno Valley since 2022, operates in this role on a part-time basis, as reported by local publication Press-Enterprise.
A position description from Flock reveals a salary range of $100,000 – $140,000, alongside additional stock options. The role’s purpose is to “assist law enforcement clients” in navigating public procurement processes “in partnership with the Sales team.” During his tenure at Flock, Cabrera promoted Flock’s technologies in at least two city council meetings that were beyond his jurisdiction, including sessions in Whitewater, Kansas, and Mammoth Lakes, California, as indicated by public meeting records.
However, approximately two weeks after Cabrera commenced his role at Flock, a company employee allegedly encouraged Cabrera to “utilize his role as the Mayor of Moreno Valley to benefit the organization,” according to Cabrera’s lawsuit. Concerned about the ethical and legal ramifications of this request, Cabrera asserts that he referred the matter to his legal advisor while notifying the Flock employee. This employee purportedly began to exhibit “retaliatory behavior” shortly thereafter. The complaint does not provide additional specifics concerning the nature of the request made by Flock.
“It’s troubling to hear claims that this company would pressure personnel to inappropriately exploit a government position,” remarked Albert Fox Cahn, the founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, to TechCrunch. “This contributes to the increasing evidence that the expansion of surveillance technology in America is propelled by a dysfunctional revolving door between the private sector and governmental authorities.”
Flock asserts it consulted with outside legal experts to ensure that employing a sitting mayor aligns with California’s conflict of interest laws, and that Cabrera received training on the subject. The statute prohibits public officials from making choices based on personal financial motivations, yet it does not restrict them from accepting jobs in the private sector.
During his re-election campaign, which he successfully won in November 2024, Cabrera highlighted on his campaign platform an earlier decision to allocate funds for a citywide Flock system in Moreno Valley (prior to joining Flock), but he did not disclose on his site that he later worked for Flock while serving as mayor. His LinkedIn profile also omits any mention of Flock.
Cabrera additionally claims he faced retaliation for voicing concerns regarding Flock’s significant underreporting of installed surveillance cameras in Carmel-by-the-Sea while engaged in a project there. In February, a Forbes investigation revealed that Flock’s camera installations violated laws in at least five states, including allegations of placing cameras without securing appropriate permits. In response, Flock stated to Forbes that the firm “operates to the best of our abilities within the bounds of the law.”
Cabrera also alleges that an employee of Flock sexually harassed him by inappropriately rubbing his leg during a conference and making comments concerning forthcoming parental leave. Flock maintains that it categorically rejects all allegations made by Cabrera.
This lawsuit represents the latest chapter in Flock’s ongoing legal challenges. In April, a civil rights group filed a suit against Flock, claiming that the company’s extensive surveillance operations breach the Fourth Amendment. In September, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a cease-and-desist letter to Flock, asserting that it lacked the necessary licensing to operate in private residences and businesses.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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