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ACUSHNET — The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday unanimously voted to discontinue the Acushnet Police Department’s use of Flock pending a review for contract termination. The action came two days after Dartmouth’s police chief announced his department is not renewing its contract with the Georgia-based tech company after nearly three years of use.
Acushnet operates one Flock camera, which stands across the street from the three-member board’s meeting room. It has been in use since early 2024.
Selectman Ryan Rezendes, who filed the motion for immediate termination of Flock, said he is skeptical of the technology and agrees with the dozens of residents who he said have contacted him with privacy concerns.
He also highlighted “issues” with the town’s agreement with Flock, which allows Flock to give 30 days notice for termination before expiration, but requires the town to give 90 days notice. It also states Flock can only be held liable for up to $100.
“If they only have to give me 30 days notice, I’ll be damned if I’m giving you 90 days notice,” said Chair Kevin A. Gaspar Sr. “I gotta suck rocks and give you 90 days to discontinue it. I don’t think so. I want to see where this contract lies and if there’s a live contract even in place … based on who signed that.”
Flock’s introduction to the board started in February 2024, when then-Acushnet Police Chief Christopher Richmond requested approval for a one-year “pilot program” with Flock. He said it would cost the town nothing as it would be funded through the state’s law enforcement trust fund, which consists of money and assets seized during investigations that are disbursed to police departments by district attorneys.
The board approved the request after about four minutes of remarks from the chief and one or two brief questions.
Richmond then said the automated license plate reader is an investigatory tool that would allow the department to collect data on vehicles and access a “network” of other communities that use Flock.
“I assure you the program is going to be governed by a policy and there’s going to be limited access within our department,” he said.
According to current Police Chief Gary Coppa, there is no written policy in place. The use, though, has been limited to four officers and more recently just one, he said.
Until Wednesday, the department had nationwide sharing activated, meaning agencies all over the country have been able to access data collected from the town’s single license plate reader.
The copy of the Flock agreement the Police Department gave to the board this week was unsigned. Rezendes said the original one-year contract was extended for two years and is set to expire in August 2027. (A copy of a Flock agreement the City of New Bedford provided to The Light in response to a records request for the contract was also unsigned.)
Gaspar said he did not believe the contract would be valid without the signature of the board. It also remains unclear where funding for continued use has come from, with Gaspar saying the town needs to do more research as there are too many unknowns.
Coppa said he would search the department’s files for a signed contract while the town’s legal team reviews the agreement conditions. He recommended the board maintain the system due to its utility for investigations.
“I think Flock has been a great tool for our department,” he said. “That one camera gives us access to all the other cameras around the country.” He acknowledged widespread abuse of the system by officers nationally, but said there has been no misuse by Acushnet officers.
Rezendes and fellow Selectman Robert Hinckley said it’s concerning that the state Legislature has not established guardrails and oversight of the use of Flock. Gaspar referenced the alleged case of misuse by a New Bedford officer, which was revealed by The Light last month. On Thursday, misuse by another New Bedford officer was announced, with the New Bedford police chief seeking termination of both officers for using the technology to track current or former romantic partners.
Acushnet Detective Sgt. Jeremy Fontes, who at this time is the only Acushnet officer with access, said he would email Flock Thursday morning to suspend the department’s access.
Residents asked the board to physically remove the camera, but Hinckley said he wanted to review whether such an action could be deemed a violation of the agreement with Flock.
Dartmouth Police Department is ending use of Flock
As of this week, more than 25 municipalities in Massachusetts have canceled, chosen not to renew, or suspended their use of the system, according to tracking by the ACLU of Massachusetts.
On Monday, Dartmouth Police Chief Brian Levesque informed the Select Board that the department is not renewing its Flock contract set to expire at the end of the month, as first reported by Dartmouth Week. He cited privacy concerns and cost (it was about $20,000 annually).
“What this really revolves around is not the effectiveness of the cameras,” he told The Light. “There are concerns around privacy issues, security issues with being able to access some of this information without the right authorization.”
He said he’d also like to see the courts and legislation catch up with the technology. He addressed misconduct he’s seen elsewhere with the technology, but said none occurred in Dartmouth.
The town operates five fixed Flock cameras and one mobile camera, for which the contract has already expired.
Levesque said Flock has to remove the cameras as it is company property, but said he hasn’t gotten a timeline from the company of when that will happen once the contract ends on Sept. 29.
Residents commended Levesque for his decision, but some asked the Select Board to go further and ensure that future surveillance technology is thoroughly vetted and requires town approval and input before the Police Department can deploy it.
One resident cited Community Control over Police Surveillance, or CCOPS, a model ordinance backed by the ACLU of Massachusetts that requires community “buy-in” before acquiring new surveillance tech. At this time, the chief told the Select Board he was taking a pause on all such license plate reader technology.
On CCOPS, Levesque said he’s worried about that specific ordinance hindering the department’s ability to adopt useful technology, especially with manpower being down.
New Bedford officials are seemingly intent on continuing use of the system after its suspension, according to statements from police and the mayor this week. They say they are building guardrails and issuing recommendations to the City Council that will “balance” public safety interests and privacy concerns.
They are also seeking feedback from community members, and putting together a working group.
The City Council is set to meet early next week to discuss the drafting of an ordinance regulating the city’s use of Flock and other surveillance technology, and possibly contemplate barring the system in the city.
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
