Rochester Police Chief Speaks Out After Town Votes to Turn Off Flock Cameras

ROCHESTER (WBSM) — The town of Rochester is the latest SouthCoast community to put a pause on its police department’s use of Flock technology, after the Rochester Select Board heard from citizens Monday night and voted to keep the cameras off for 30 days while gathering more information about the data collected.

According to Sippican Week, that 30-day pause can also be extended if the Select Board deems that not enough information is collected during that time.

Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad, Jr. has been an advocate of the Automated License Plate Reader cameras, six of which have been put up in Rochester. Residents echoed concerns that have been expressed in other communities, such as questions about privacy and what happens to the data collected by the cameras.

Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad Responds to Community Privacy Concerns

Chief Assad posted his thoughts on the department’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning, noting the cameras are now inactive.

“We have heard the concerns raised by members of our community, particularly regarding privacy, how information is stored and shared, and whether information collected through the system could be sold or used outside of its intended public-safety purpose,” he wrote. “We hear you, and we take those concerns seriously.”

Assad said the 30-day pause “will be an opportunity to take another hard look at the program and ensure there are clear answers regarding the protection, storage, sharing, and use of information associated with these cameras.”

Assad said it was “difficult from a law-enforcement perspective” to pause the cameras because of how the technology has assisted in solving crimes, and they have “helped us save lives.”

“But it does not change who we work for. Team RPD works for the people of Rochester,” he wrote. “This is not simply about what I think is best or what the police department wants. The people we serve have a voice in how their community is policed, and we have an obligation to listen to that voice.”

Earlier on Monday, Rochester Police had posted its latest crime stats to Facebook, including how Flock technology helped in that policing.

SouthCoast Communities Reevaluate Police ALPR Cameras

Rochester joins other SouthCoast communities such as New Bedford, Acushnet and Dartmouth that have paused or ended their use of Flock ALPR technology.

According to New Bedford Light, Acushnet’s Board of Selectmen voted last month to end the use of the single Flock camera in that town. Dartmouth Week reported that Dartmouth Police would let their contract run out for its five Flock cameras at the end of last month and would not be renewing.

READ MORE: Flock Cameras Shut Down in New Bedford

New Bedford Police put their use of Flock cameras on hold so that the New Bedford City Council could try to work out an ordinance on how the cameras are used and the data is maintained after two members of the department were investigated for misuse of the technology. Chief Jason Thody has recommended they be terminated.

READ MORE: New Bedford Police Turn Off Flock Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns, Alleged Officer Misuse

The council also recently voted to advance an ordinance that would outright ban the use of such technology to further ensure the cameras remain off as they work through the guidelines that will be submitted in a future ordinance.

Tim Weisberg/Townsquare Media