Flock License Plate Readers and ALPR Policy

At a glance

• What: Public hearing on the Lynn Police Department's 23 fixed Flock license plate reader cameras, after an audit led to two Lynn officers being placed on leave in August and a Swampscott officer in September over possible misuse of Lynn's data. Speakers from the North Shore Labor Council, the ACLU of Massachusetts and the group that won removal of Flock in Salem asked the city to end data sharing, remove the cameras by year end, and create a community oversight committee.
• Where it stands: Review under way; the council continues the matter to its first meeting in January 2027, with police updates and a legal framework due within 45 days.

Based on auto-generated captions of the video; names, numbers and addresses may be misheard.

Sources

• 2026-10-13 - City Council
• 2026-10-13 - City Council Committees

Log

2026-10-13 - City Council Committees

Chief Kelly's letter and remarks described a new policy: no one below the rank of lieutenant may access the system, data kept 7 days, audits every 7 days, a case number and reason required for each search, no sharing outside Massachusetts or with federal agencies except where legally required, and bans on use for reproductive rights, political speech, protected classes, immigration enforcement and personal use. He said the city owns the data, and that two cameras at Curran Circle were added after violent crime in that housing area. The city attorney said the contract was signed June 29, 2026 for two years at $30,000 a year ($64,000 including implementation), with termination for convenience at $500 per camera (about $12,000), and cited state high court rulings that cameras on major roads are not an unconstitutional search. Residents also described slow or denied public records requests for audit data. Councilors Avery's motion carried 11-0 after a friendly amendment to hold the review as a committee of the whole; Council President Alinsug reserved judgment and Councilor McClain said she was uncomfortable with the system.

2026-10-13 - City Council

The council accepted the Committee of the Whole report and voted to continue the discussion for 90 days, with the first meeting in January 2027 as the target for a decision.