Mukilteo police cut off federal access to license plate camera network after unauthorized use

The Mukilteo Police Department says it has disabled a national camera network feature after discovering that federal agencies — including the U.S. Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security — accessed the city’s Flock Camera System without permission.

According to a statement from the department, the access violated local policy and occurred through Flock’s “National Lookup Feature,” which allowed participating agencies nationwide to share Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) data. Mukilteo police said they were not informed that Flock had entered a pilot program with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“The Mukilteo Police Department has not engaged in immigration enforcement activities and has not provided access to federal agencies for immigration purposes,” the statement said.

The Flock System consists of 10 cameras in Mukilteo and is used to identify stolen vehicles, locate missing or vulnerable people, and assist in investigations involving crimes such as domestic violence.

The department said it only authorizes access to agencies within Washington state that comply with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act, which limits local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

In response to the unauthorized access, Police Chief Andy Illyn said the department has taken “immediate steps to secure our systems and prevent any further unauthorized access.”

“The Mukilteo Police Department values its longstanding partnerships with federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshal Service, DEA, FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspectors,” the chief said.

“These relationships are built on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. When a partner circumvents local oversight and accesses systems without disclosure, it compromises the integrity of that relationship.”

Mukilteo police said they are in ongoing contact with Flock representatives to ensure the city’s system remains secure and that future access complies with department policy.

The department also released its Automated License Plate Reader policy (Policy Number 339) and reaffirmed its commitment to “upholding the highest standards of integrity” and maintaining public trust in its use of technology.