Council asks police chief for contracts and map after residents flag 'Flock' license‑plate readers

The Waltham City Council voted on Oct. 27 to request a review of recent deployments of Flock license‑plate‑reader cameras and to ask the police chief to appear before the Committee of the Whole with documentation.

Councilor Robert G. Logan introduced the resolution, saying the sudden appearance of the cameras had generated many public inquiries and that the council — as the city’s policy‑setting body — should clarify how collected data is controlled, stored and used. "What happens with the data? Who controls the data? What can that data be used for?" Logan asked during his remarks.

Several councilors said they first learned of deployments from social media and constituent emails, and some residents reported having submitted FOIA requests without clear responses. Councilor Kathy Anne Harris and others said neighboring cities (for example, Woburn) have adopted data‑retention schedules and restrictions on analytics and facial‑recognition technologies and urged a public process in Waltham.

Requested materials and next steps: The council approved a motion to refer the matter to the Committee of the Whole and asked the police chief to provide in advance copies of "any and all contracts and/or agreements between Flock Safety Systems and the City of Waltham and/or any of its departments or representatives," together with a map showing planned camera locations. The Committee of the Whole will consider the documents and hold a public discussion.

Why it matters: Councilors framed the resolution as a policy review to ensure civil‑rights safeguards, transparent retention policies and clarity about third‑party access to data before additional deployments proceed.