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Glocester council votes to remove Flock license-plate cameras after public privacy protests
Summary
After a lengthy public comment period and debate, the Glocester Town Council voted to remove the town's Flock ALPR cameras, citing residents'privacy concerns and a lack of earlier transparency. The chief said the system had aided about 50 investigations since 2023; opponents urged stricter oversight and state-level safeguards.
The Glocester Town Council voted on Aug. 6, 2026, to remove the town's Flock automated license-plate recognition (ALPR) cameras following an extended public comment period in which residents raised privacy and transparency concerns. Chief Jeffrey Jenison told the council the system had been in place since December 2023 and "about 50 cases" had produced positive investigative outcomes since its installation.
Residents at the meeting described a range of privacy risks and cited national examples of misuse. "Allowing these cameras in Glocester puts citizens at risk of misuse and abuse of our personal data," said Meghan Tankred, who said she represented more than 400 petition signers opposed to the technology. Town officials acknowledged they had voted to extend the contract in 2023 but said details were not widely understood then. After debate, a councilor moved to remove the cameras; the motion was seconded and the council passed it by voice vote. The chief later reported that he had deactivated access to the system while the council considers next steps.
Why it matters: The vote ends active use of a tool the police say provides leads on stolen vehicles, missing persons and other investigations, while residents say the system's data-sharing, retention, and the potential for function creep represent significant civil-liberty risks. The council heard complaints that the contract and deployment had lacked upfront public notification and asked staff to work on transparency and contractual obligations including whether midterm cancellation triggers penalties.
What comes next: Council members and the police chief said they will review contractual penalties and consider options for restricting data-sharing or negotiating a modified arrangement; the chief told the council the town remains contractually obligated for the multiyear agreement and would need to address any termination costs in the budget process.
