Massachusetts.- Automated license plate reader technology remains an important public safety tool for law enforcement, but its use must be accompanied by clear policies, oversight and accountability, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association said Wednesday.
The association’s statement came as Flock Safety, a major provider of automated license plate readers (ALPR), faces increased scrutiny in Massachusetts following allegations of misuse by police officers and decisions by several communities to end or reconsider their contracts with the company.
Michael J. Bradley, Jr., executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, said ALPR systems can provide timely information that helps officers locate missing or endangered individuals, recover stolen vehicles, identify suspects and develop leads in serious criminal investigations.
“Technology and accountability can and must go hand in hand,” Bradley said.
Bradley said searches of ALPR systems should be connected to a legitimate law enforcement purpose and conducted in accordance with department policy and applicable law.
He also emphasized the importance of limited data retention and auditing as safeguards for proper use and public confidence.
“As technology advances, our policies, training, and oversight practices must evolve with it,” Bradley said.
The association said departments using ALPR technology should establish clearly defined authorized uses, individual user accounts and access controls, documentation of the law enforcement purpose for searches, limited data retention periods and regular supervisory review of system activity.
It also called for appropriate requirements governing data access and sharing, training for authorized users, periodic review of policies and prompt investigations of suspected misuse.
The association said violations that are substantiated should result in appropriate corrective or disciplinary action. At the same time, it said isolated incidents of misuse should not overshadow what it described as the many lawful and successful uses of ALPR technology.
Bradley said public confidence depends on both the effectiveness of the technology and responsible governance. The association said agencies should be prepared to explain how ALPR technology is used, what safeguards are in place, how long data is retained and how compliance is monitored and audited.
Flock faces scrutiny in Massachusetts
The statement comes amid a series of controversies involving Flock Safety’s license plate reader systems in Massachusetts.
In Stow, Officer Jason Rogers resigned Wednesday before a scheduled employment hearing. He had been accused of improperly using Flock and other law enforcement databases to obtain information without a legitimate law enforcement purpose. The department ended its relationship with Flock and removed its final camera earlier this month.
In Lynn, two officers were placed on leave after an audit identified what officials described as a “concerning pattern” in some Flock searches. Other Massachusetts departments have also paused their use of the technology or moved to end their contracts.
On Wednesday, police in Bellingham announced that they would not renew their Flock contract when it expires Sept. 4. Auburn and Douglas also moved to end their relationships with Flock.
Bellingham Police Chief Kenneth Fitzgerald cited concerns about pricing and transparency and specifically raised questions about Flock’s FreeForm feature, which allows users to search visual information using plain-language queries. Fitzgerald said the feature went beyond what he understood to be a traditional license plate reader.
Other communities, including Framingham, New Bedford, Salem, Cambridge, Littleton and Hopkinton, have also restricted Flock use or ended their contracts, according to recent reporting.
The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association’s statement does not call for abandoning ALPR technology. Instead, it emphasizes policies and safeguards intended to ensure that the technology is used for legitimate law enforcement purposes and that suspected misuse is investigated.
Subscribe to The Shrewsbury Post Updates
