Select Board Regulates Flock Camera Use

The Seekonk Select Board approved a policy regarding the use of the Flock cameras at their Wednesday meeting. The vote was 4 - 0. Robert Archambault abstained. Chair Gary Sagar, Michael Healy, Chris Zorra, and Elizabeth Elmasian were in favor.

“There is a cost to it,” Board member Rob Archambault explained. “It bothers me on an essential civil liberties issue. I wonder where it goes from here. Not every criminal has a plate on their vehicle. Not every criminal is driving their vehicle.”

At least 25 Massachusetts municipalities have canceled or paused their contracts with Flock Safety over intense public backlash and privacy concerns.

In New Bedford, Police removed cameras and launched an investigation after an officer used the system to track an ex-girlfriend. In Revere, an officer was suspended for using the database to locate a woman who had an active restraining order against him

Seekonk Police Chief David Enos defended the department’s use of Flock cameras.

“I’m sensitive to your concerns,” Enos told Archambault before the vote. “It’s a great tool for law enforcement. (Flock cameras) help solve crimes. I just want to make sure that we have the rules in place to protect the town, the townspeople, the people who drive through town, and the officers to make sure they are making the right decisions.”

In 2023, the police department, under the leadership of Chief Dean Isabella, installed 20 cameras on various streets.

The original cost was $57,000 for the first year, Isabella had said about Flock Safety, a company which operates a camera system all over New England.

The department has been able to track vehicles which might be stolen cars or those connected with a Silver alert or an Amber alert.

Isabella explained the department studied locations with the highest number of border traffic. The locations selected include the I-195 overpass for Providence and Fall River, Highland Avenue, Central Avenue, and Rt. 114 A/ Taunton Avenue.

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime believes the cameras are working but supports a policy to prevent any abuse.

“Like any technology, it can be misused,” Cadime noted. “I have enough confidence in the men and women of our police department that they’re not going to misuse this.”

Cadime said the cameras are not only used to solve crimes but can also help locate missing persons as well.

“We have used the Flock system to find a resident who had dementia. We found them in Tiverton because of the Flock system. We were able to quickly relocate the individual with their family.”