Flock Safety Hires, Then Sues California Mayor - Details

Flock Safety Faces Lawsuit from Former Mayoral Employee

In the past year, Flock Safety, a company specializing in police surveillance technology, employed a California city’s mayor to advocate for its products. Ulises Cabrera, the mayor of Moreno Valley – a city exceeding 200,000 residents – now alleges that Flock terminated his employment unjustly.

The basis for this claim, as detailed in a lawsuit filed by Cabrera in November 2024, centers around his refusal to leverage his mayoral position for the company’s gain. This situation raises questions regarding the potential for undue influence exerted by private entities on public officials.

Company Growth and Technology

Flock Safety, supported by investment from Andreessen Horowitz, has experienced substantial growth, reaching a $3.5 billion valuation. This expansion is largely attributed to the increasing adoption of its license plate recognition technology throughout the United States.

The company has also recently diversified its offerings to include drone technology. However, the current legal dispute highlights potential ethical concerns surrounding its business practices.

Flock’s Response and Legal Compliance

Flock vehemently denies all allegations presented by Cabrera. The company asserts that its hiring of a sitting mayor was fully compliant with California’s regulations concerning conflicts of interest.

As of the time of reporting, Cabrera has not responded to requests for comment from TechCrunch regarding the matter.

Details of Cabrera’s Employment

According to reports initially published by IPVM, a surveillance industry publication, Cabrera served as a Community Engagement Manager for Flock from February to June 2024.

While holding this position, Cabrera continued to serve as the part-time mayor of Moreno Valley, a role he assumed in 2022.

Compensation and Job Responsibilities

The job posting for Cabrera’s position at Flock indicated a salary range of $100,000 to $140,000, in addition to stock options. The role was designed to assist law enforcement clients through the public procurement process, working in conjunction with the Sales team.

During his tenure, Cabrera reportedly delivered presentations promoting Flock’s technology at city council meetings in locations outside of his jurisdiction, specifically Whitewater, Kansas, and Mammoth Lakes, California.

Alleged Pressure to Utilize Mayoral Position

The lawsuit alleges that approximately two weeks into his employment, a Flock employee requested Cabrera to utilize his position as mayor to benefit the company.

Cabrera, concerned about the ethical and legal ramifications, purportedly forwarded this request to his legal counsel, copying the Flock employee, which allegedly triggered retaliatory actions.

The specific nature of the request made by Flock remains undisclosed in the lawsuit.

Concerns Regarding Industry and Government Ties

“It is concerning to see allegations that this company would pressure staff to unethically exploit a government position,” states Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.

“This contributes to the increasing evidence suggesting that American surveillance is driven by a problematic exchange between industry and government.”

California Conflict of Interest Laws

Flock maintains that it verified the legality of employing a sitting mayor under California’s conflict of interest regulations with external legal counsel. The company also states that Cabrera received training on these regulations.

California law prohibits public officials from making decisions influenced by their personal financial interests, including employment with private companies. However, it does not explicitly forbid them from holding private sector jobs.

Campaign Disclosures and LinkedIn Profile

During his re-election campaign, which he won in November 2024, Cabrera highlighted his prior vote to fund a citywide Flock system in Moreno Valley on his campaign website. However, he did not disclose his subsequent employment with Flock while serving as mayor.

Currently, Cabrera’s LinkedIn profile does not mention his affiliation with Flock.

Allegations of Underreporting Surveillance Cameras

Cabrera also alleges that he faced retaliation for raising concerns about Flock allegedly underreporting the number of surveillance cameras installed in Carmel-by-the-Sea during a project there.

A Forbes investigation in February revealed that Flock camera installations violated laws in at least five states, including instances of installations without proper permits. Flock responded to Forbes, stating it “operates to the best of our abilities within the bounds of the law.”

Additional Allegations of Misconduct

Furthermore, Cabrera claims he experienced sexual harassment from a Flock employee, alleging the employee rubbed his leg against his at a conference and disclosed upcoming parental leave. Flock categorically denies all of Cabrera’s allegations.

Recent Legal Challenges for Flock

This lawsuit represents the latest in a series of legal challenges for Flock. In April, a civil rights organization filed a lawsuit against the company, arguing that its widespread surveillance practices violate the Fourth Amendment.

In September, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a cease and desist order to Flock, asserting that the company lacked the necessary license to operate in private homes and businesses.