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The City of New Bedford will not renew its contract with Flock Safety for automated license-plate readers — a move that could de-escalate the controversial debate on the balance of community public safety and individual privacy rights.
The New Bedford Police Department confirmed to The Light Friday that it notified Flock of its decision on Oct. 8, ahead of the Nov. 12 expiration of the city’s contract with the company.
“Deputy Derek Belong sent written notice confirming the department would not renew the contract,” Holly Huntoon, a Police Department spokesperson, wrote in an email. “That notice was being provided more than 30 days before the contract’s expiration.”
The city suspended its use of Flock cameras in August. The City Council has questioned whether the city should resume using Flock and what restrictions should apply if it does. The council is scheduled to address license plate reader technology issues again at a committee meeting Monday night.
The confirmation came a day after the mayor announced the firing of Officer Emily Pacheco and Sgt. James Marinelli. Police Chief Jason Thody had recommended their termination in September after investigators found that they had used Flock to track current or former romantic partners.
Internal affairs reports previously obtained by The Light found that Pacheco searched her former girlfriend’s license plate more than 650 times and the plate of her former girlfriend’s new partner more than 200 times. Marinelli searched his girlfriend’s plate nearly 70 times, investigators found.
Thody announced the system’s suspension on Aug. 11, a day after Pacheco was served with an abuse prevention order. The announcement followed inquiries from The Light about the allegations against Pacheco.
On Sept. 24, the City Council voted 8–3 to give initial approval to an ordinance barring the city from operating license plate readers or renewing contracts for them. The council took a second vote this Thursday, Oct. 22, again voting 8-3. The nay votes in both cases were City Councilors Naomi Carney, Brian Gomes and Shawn Oliver, who has withdrawn from the lieutenant governor’s race after being arrested on a drunk-driving charge.
Councilor Shane Burgo said Thody had informed him of the decision not to renew the contract, and that Thody provided new material for discussion that the councilor will present at the next Ordinance Committee meeting on Monday, Oct. 26.
The material includes an ordinance governing police use of automated license-plate readers that the Woonsocket, Rhode Island, City Council passed unanimously on Oct. 19.
The ordinance allows Woonsocket police to use license-plate readers for law enforcement. It generally limits data retention to 30 days, with exceptions for evidence and legal questions. It prohibits personal misuse, discriminatory targeting and sharing data with other agencies for civil immigration enforcement. A camera alert alone is not enough for a stop; officers must verify it and have a lawful basis to stop the vehicle. The ordinance also requires monthly audits, public reporting on the system’s use, and disciplinary consequences for misuse.
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, The Light will host “Flock: Public Safety vs. Privacy,” a Community Conversation examining the use of automated license-plate readers. Panelists include Thody, Fall River Interim Police Chief J.T. Hoar, ACLU attorney Gideon Epstein and state Rep. Steven Owens, who has introduced statewide regulations on the technology.
The discussion will take place at Keith Middle School from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Email Eleonora Bianchi at ebianchi@newbedfordlight.org.
Yes we should legislate for new rules [laws] but, in the meantime turn the system back on now ! Weather you like it or not your being filmed right now.
we have banks that keep your money safe but if a crook robs a bank do we close all the banks – No – we catch and prosecute . Smarten-up people