Last week, CT Insider reported that Flock Safety — a company that operates license plate scanners in many Connecticut towns and cities — is sharing data with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection.
Resident John McCarthy learned that the town of Westport has paid Flock Group $80,000, and asked about town leaders’ knowledge and oversight of Flock.
Today, Police Chief David Farrell responded to questions by McCarthy, and several Representative Town Meeting members. He said:
I appreciate the concerns raised regarding the use of Flock license plate reader (LPR) cameras, particularly as they relate to privacy and the handling of data. Public trust is central to our mission, and I want to take this opportunity to clarify both our safeguards and the benefits of this technology.
LPR technology has been in use by the Westport Police Department for over 15 years. Early on, these cameras were affixed to a couple of our patrol cars, as well as our railroad parking vehicle.
As technology has progressed, we have upgraded our systems, including changing vendors to meet our needs. We now have that technology built into our patrol in-car cameras that were mandated by An Act Concerning Police Accountability in 2020.
Flock license plae reader.
We utilize LPRs for downtown parking enforcement, and have had fixed cameras in place next to the Westport railroad station off I-95 exit 17 northbound and southbound for several years. Our two primary vendors are Vigilant and Flock.
The Flock system is designed with strict privacy protections. The cameras capture vehicle license plates, not personal identity information. The data collected is stored securely, is retained for 30 days, and access is strictly controlled.
Our department’s policy prohibits the use of LPR data for immigration enforcement or any purpose unrelated to legitimate criminal investigations. We do not share this data with federal immigration enforcement agencies. Our intent is solely to protect our community, not to compromise the rights or privacy of our residents.
The LPR system has already proven to be a valuable tool in preventing and solving crime. The cameras act as force multipliers by alerting officers to stolen vehicles, wanted people, and vehicles associated with ongoing investigations.
As you are aware, criminals will steal a vehicle, and then use that vehicle to commit other crimes, which is the case in many of the stolen vehicles that have occurred throughout this town. This real-time information has directly led to arrests in many communities for cases involving violent felonies, motor vehicle theft, and other serious crimes.
License plate recognition cameras can automatically notify authorities of suspected vehicles.
In addition, the system allows investigators to quickly generate leads that would otherwise take days or weeks to develop, ultimately saving critical resources. With surrounding towns also on this platform, we can coordinate when bad actors enter this region and work together to proactively catch criminals. These towns include Norwalk, Fairfield, New Caanan, Darien, Wilton, Bridgeport, Ridgefield and Newtown.
Because of the benefits of the system, the police department requested an increase in its operating budget to account for additional LPR cameras. This was presented and discussed at the public workshop and formal meetings with the Board of Finance.
It was also presented and discussed at scheduled meetings with RTM Committees (Public Protection, Finance, and Transit) during budget approval. It was included in our budget book that was presented to the full RTM for their consideration as well.
Our department recognizes that security and privacy must coexist. We have established policies, oversight measures, and accountability mechanisms to ensure the responsible use of this technology. We remain committed to transparency to ensure continued trust and confidence in our approach.
In summary, LPR cameras provide our community with a modern, efficient, and accountable tool to enhance public safety while respecting privacy.
