County record · California
Santa Cruz County
Technology presence
The record, by agency
Santa Cruz Police Department
The Santa Cruz Police Department received approval to install Flock Safety automated license plate readers in December 2023.
Sources: Good Times
The Santa Cruz Police Department has used body-worn cameras since 2018. Police officers, community service officers, and park rangers wear BWCs.
Sources: City of Santa CruzSanta Cruz Police and the 21st Century Policing
The Santa Cruz Police Department has a camera registry.
Sources: Downtown Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Police Department received approval to purchase five Skydio drones in February 2024.
Sources: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office has used body-worn cameras since 2017.
Sources: Santa Cruz County Sheriff
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office operated 24 drones as of 2023.
Sources: Santa Cruz County Sheriff's OfficeThe PajaronianCenter for the Study of the Drone at Bard College
Watsonville Police Department
As of April 2024, the Watsonville Police Department operates 20 Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
The Watsonville Police Department equipped all of its officers with 75 Axon body-worn Cameras in 2019. The five-year contract cost more than $470,000.
Capitola Police Department
The Capitola Police Department acquired Flock Safety automated license plate readers in 2024.
Scotts Valley Police Department
The Scotts Valley Police Department uses WatchGuard body-worn cameras.
Sources: Scotts Valley Police DepartmentScotts Valley Police Department Facebook
University of California Santa Cruz Police Department
The UC Santa Cruz Police Department acquired body-worn cameras in 2017.
Sources: City on a Hill PressUniversity of California Santa Cruz Police Department
Source: EFF Atlas of Surveillance (Electronic Frontier Foundation & University of Nevada, Reno — Reynolds School of Journalism) · CC BY 4.0 · retrieved July 2026