Mass Towns Ditch License Plate Readers After Public Outcry

Two more Massachusetts towns just pulled the plug on Flock Safety cameras. East Bridgewater and Grafton joined a growing list of communities saying no to automated license plate readers. Police chiefs in both towns announced the decision Friday. Grafton's chief mentioned vandalism and theft of the devices as another reason. East Bridgewater only had one camera up and running. They planned four but hit pause after residents spoke up.

A public forum in East Bridgewater on August 10th got heated. Residents lined up to oppose the technology. One person said police look at surveillance through a law enforcement lens only. Another cited an audit in Savannah Georgia. That review found 127 inappropriate searches using Flock systems. Concerns included misuse by bad actors and government overreach. Data breaches and leaks were also flagged as real risks.

Chief Jenkins in East Bridgewater has served nearly 30 years. He said community trust matters most. The department thought the cameras would help investigations. After listening to residents and watching recent events they changed course. Jenkins stressed this doesn't mean the tech has zero value. It can work with proper rules. Right now the concerns outweigh the expected benefits. Safety privacy and constitutional rights come first.

Other Massachusetts towns are rethinking too. Hopkinton ended its contract after a legal review. Lynn police found a concerning pattern in searches. Two officers got placed on paid leave. An investigation started. Access got restricted to supervisors only. New Bedford suspended cameras after an officer allegedly misused the system. Officer Emily Pacheco faces accusations of improper access. The trend shows communities demanding accountability.