New Bedford police face resident backlash over Flock license‑plate reader contract

More than 100 New Bedford residents gathered at the Casimir Pulaski School auditorium to protest the city’s contract with Flock for license‑plate reader (ALPR) cameras. Attendees demanded the removal of the 20 cameras installed without public input and called on the city council to cancel the agreement. Police Chief Jason Thody and a Flock representative testified, while councilors and an ACLU of Massachusetts expert answered questions. Residents, including Ben Comeau, criticized the council for approving the budget line item “in the darkness of night” and urged a hearing to review the policy.

The controversy mirrors a broader national debate over expanded surveillance technology. In North Carolina, lawmakers have included expanded authority for ALPRs in the state budget, citing cases where the cameras helped locate missing children. Critics, however, warn of privacy risks and cite incidents such as a Charlotte officer allegedly accessing license‑plate data for a drug dealer. The New Bedford meeting reflects growing public scrutiny of automated surveillance tools like Flock’s 120,000 ALPRs deployed across the United States.