San Diego Police Used License Plate Readers to Track Officer
Councilmember Raul Campillo is calling for the program's suspension and an audit of how the technology is used.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Should San Diego police be barred from using license plate readers in internal investigations?
Newly released police records show San Diego police used automated license plate readers to track an officer and a domestic violence victim during an internal investigation. The San Diego Police Department has used the ALPR system in six administrative investigations involving specific allegations of misconduct.
Why it matters
The disclosure raises questions for San Diego residents about how surveillance tools are used on the people police employ as well as the public. The City Council's decision on the technology could determine whether its use continues and under what oversight.
The department reports ALPR was used in six administrative investigations involving specific misconduct allegations, and the officer involved is no longer employed by SDPD. Whether the other five investigations involved similar tracking has not been detailed in the records cited.
The players
San Diego Police Department
The municipal police agency serving San Diego, which operates the license plate reader system and defends its policy as allowing use in administrative investigations.
Raul Campillo
A member of the San Diego City Council who has called for suspending the ALPR program and auditing its use.
The details
SDPD states its ALPR policy allows use for legitimate law enforcement purposes, including administrative investigations, and that the use was for thoroughly investigating allegations of officer misconduct. Councilmember Raul Campillo has called for suspension of the program and an audit of how the department uses the technology.
Timeline
Monday: The San Diego City Council is scheduled to discuss continued use of surveillance technologies, including ALPRs.
December: The council's ALPR decision was originally scheduled for this month, though councilmembers are expected to consider moving it up.
Legal Context
The use of license plate reader data in internal misconduct probes adds to ongoing debate over how police surveillance tools are governed once collected. San Diego's council review may set a local precedent for whether such data can be used in administrative investigations of officers.
Residents whose vehicles pass fixed or mobile license plate readers may have their location data stored and searched, including for internal investigations of officers. The council's decision on the program will determine whether that data access continues and what audit safeguards apply.
The takeaway
Residents who want a say in how surveillance tools are used by local police can follow the San Diego City Council's discussion of ALPR policy and attend or comment at its meetings. Tracking how these decisions are made helps show whether oversight keeps pace with the technology.
What happens next
The San Diego City Council is scheduled to discuss continued use of surveillance technologies, including ALPRs, on Monday, and councilmembers are expected to consider moving up a decision rather than waiting until December.
Further reading
For more on how local agencies handle these tools, see Law Enforcement coverage in San Diego.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV.
Live Poll
Should San Diego police be barred from using license plate readers in internal investigations?
