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Boylston becomes latest town to dump Flock cameras

  • Posted by The Burbs (Sponsor: North End Motor Sales) 6 hours ago - Filed in News - #Boylston  #Boylston Police Department  #Flock  #ALPR  - 57 views


    Boylston Police Department photos

    BOYLSTON — Boylston has become the latest Massachusetts community to dump Flock Safety's automated license plate reader system, suspending use of the cameras immediately and moving to terminate the town's contract with the company.

    The Boylston Police Department announced the decision Friday morning after working with the Select Board, Town Administrator's Office and town counsel. Police Chief John Annunziata has notified Flock Safety of the town's intent to terminate the agreement, and police have stopped using the system while the cameras are deactivated.

    The decision adds Boylston to a rapidly growing list of Massachusetts communities that have ended or suspended their relationships with Flock. Abington, Ayer, Groton and Stow recently terminated their contracts, while another community suspended use of the cameras.

    Closer to Boylston, Auburn, Douglas and Bellingham also have cut ties with Flock. Auburn said it severed its relationship because of a contractual defect, while Douglas cited concerns over privacy, data sharing and the company's practices.

    Grafton and East Bridgewater dropped Flock in August, joining more than a dozen Massachusetts municipalities that at the time had publicly suspended or terminated use of the cameras.

    Boylston officials, however, said their decision was prompted specifically by the way the Flock system was purchased rather than a rejection of automatic license plate reader technology.

    According to a statement signed by all 3 Select Board members, a review determined that procurement of the Flock camera system did not comply with requirements of Chapter 30B, the state's Uniform Procurement Act.

    "This decision is based on the procurement process and should not be interpreted as a determination that ALPR technology itself is inappropriate or that the technology does not provide value to our Police Department," the Select Board wrote.

    Boylston's action is similar to one taken last month in Hopkinton. Hopkinton terminated its Flock contract Aug. 20 after a legal review found statutory deficiencies that town officials said made the agreement unlawful under Massachusetts law.

    Other communities have dropped Flock for different reasons. Framingham decided not to renew its contract following months of opposition from residents concerned about privacy, surveillance and data sharing.

    Cambridge terminated its Flock contract in December after the company installed two cameras without the city's knowledge while the program was paused, an action city officials characterized as a breach of trust.

    Boylston officials said they continue to support A.L.P.R. technology as a potential police tool. Annunziata will continue evaluating other technologies that could assist police and improve public safety, particularly because of Boylston's proximity to larger communities and the amount of traffic traveling through town.

    The Select Board has scheduled a public meeting for 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 28th to discuss A.L.P.R. technology. Annunziata is expected to make a presentation on its use, capabilities and benefits, and residents will have an opportunity to comment on whether and how the technology should be used in Boylston in the future.

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