Massachusetts.- Police departments in Stoughton, Boylston and Auburn have announced recent changes involving Flock Safety license plate reader cameras.
In Stoughton, the Police Department canceled its contract with Flock Safety effective September 4, following a review of the program and concerns raised by community members. The Stoughton Select Board publicly announced the cancellation on September 8.
The department said the review considered the usefulness of the system, existing safeguards and concerns about public trust and transparency. Police said the system had been a useful investigative tool but decided to cancel the contract after considering those concerns.
Stoughton police have ended department access to the Flock system and stopped data sharing with outside agencies through the platform. Flock Safety has also been notified that equipment installed under the contract must be removed by October 1.
Acting Police Chief James E. O’Connor said the department considered concerns raised by residents along with how the technology was being used.
“While the Flock Safety system has provided the Department with a valuable investigative tool, public trust and transparency must remain paramount in how we deploy technology in service of this community,” O’Connor said.
In Boylston, police announced September 11 that they had stopped using the Flock system and were moving to end the town’s current agreement with the company.
The department said the decision was related to the process used to purchase the system and should not be viewed as a determination that license plate reader technology has no value for law enforcement or public safety.
Boylston police said they will continue to consider license plate reader technology and other options. The Select Board is scheduled to hold a public meeting September 28 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the technology, including how it is used, its capabilities and potential future use in Boylston.
In Auburn, police said September 14 that Flock license plate reader cameras remained turned off after the department asked Flock Safety to deactivate the system on August 24.
Police administrators have continued checking the system to make sure the cameras remain deactivated. Flock Safety has told the department that physical removal of the cameras is scheduled for the week of September 21, although the schedule could change.
The three announcements come as other Massachusetts communities have also ended or declined to renew Flock Safety agreements. The communities identified in the supplied information include Easton, Littleton, Cambridge, Watertown, Framingham, Natick, Brookline, Salem, Hopkinton, Wellesley, Bellingham, Douglas, Grafton, Groton and East Bridgewater.
Subscribe to The Shrewsbury Post Updates
