Orange County Fusion Center Warned Police to Watch Anti-Flock Council Meetings, 404 Media Reports
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Summary
A July bulletin from the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center told California police that council meetings about Flock cameras "may be viewed by extremists as a desirable target," while finding "no specific and credible threats," 404 Media reports.
A government fusion center in Orange County told police in California in July that city council meetings about Flock surveillance cameras "may be viewed by extremists as a desirable target," according to a bulletin obtained by 404 Media through a Freedom of Information Act request. The bulletin, issued by the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC), also says it found "no specific and credible threats" tied to those meetings. This is the latest development in our Flock coverage.
What the bulletin tells police to watch for
404 Media reported that the bulletin urges police to look out for "emotional confrontations" between people who oppose surveillance and government officials. It says partners "are encouraged to review for signs of suspicious activity," and 404 Media reports that the examples include "excessive clothing," "unusual questions or behavior," loitering and "unattended bags or packages."
The bulletin also lists what it calls possible public safety risks at such meetings. Per 404 Media's excerpt, these include a large turnout beyond room capacity, counterdemonstrations, media presence, social media amplification and disruption of council proceedings. Under disruption it names interrupting speakers, shouting from the audience, refusing to yield the podium after time limits and coordinated chanting. It also lists possible "minor physical altercations" and says any credible threats against officials, staff, organizers or attendees should be treated as a significant public safety concern.
On extremism, the bulletin says "there is no publicly available information indicating extremist involvement," while adding that contentious events may attract isolated individuals seeking to promote unrelated ideological causes.
The Los Angeles connection
The bulletin points to the Los Angeles Police Department's decision to end its Flock contract. 404 Media reports that the bulletin says organizers may be emboldened by that news, which it describes as "providing organizers and participants with a high-profile local example that could increase turnout and place additional public pressure on City Council members" to end their own Flock contracts.
OCIAC's stated position
The bulletin closes with a statement about civil liberties. "The OCIAC recognizes that Americans have constitutionally protected rights to assemble, speak, and petition the government," it reads. "The OCIAC safeguards these rights and only reports on First Amendment protected activities for operational planning in the interest of assuring the safety and security of the demonstrators and the public."
404 Media's article, as we reviewed it, quotes no further comment from OCIAC.
Part of a pattern, 404 Media says
404 Media wrote that the bulletin is similar to others obtained by the outlet and by other journalists about the broader DeFlock movement and about vandalism of Flock surveillance cameras. The outlet also said it has reported on people arrested at council meetings about Flock and data centers for speaking slightly too long, talking out of turn or cursing at officials, and that it considers none of those illegal.
A federal judge recently ruled a deputy's warrantless Flock search unconstitutional, and our tracker page lists the rest of our reporting on the company.
What is not established
The bulletin itself says no specific and credible threats were found. The article, as reviewed, does not report any council meeting where police acted on this bulletin, and it does not say how many agencies received it beyond police in California. Whether any department used the guidance at a meeting is not known from the reporting.