LITTLETON — Officials claim that five of Littleton’s Flock Safety cameras were switched back on by the company without informing the town after the town temporarily disabled the cameras earlier this year.
In a statement Thursday, the town said Select Board Chair Gary Wilson had requested that the Littleton Police Department access the automatic license plate reading cameras to verify their status. In doing so Thursday morning, police found that five of the town’s six cameras had been reactivated by Flock “with no notification to the town.”
“There is no data shared from Littleton cameras to other jurisdictions and at no time did LPD access any data gathered by the cameras in Littleton while they were powered,” said the statement. “Select Board Chairman Wilson and the Select Board were notified and immediately requested [the Littleton Electric Light Department] turn the breaker off to each camera. As of [Thursday] afternoon, LELD confirmed turning off the camera power. Select Board Chairman Wilson and the Select Board then directed Town Counsel to initiate cancellation of the contract with Flock Safety and directed the Town Administrator to coordinate the removal of the six cameras on public ways with [the Department of Public Works].”
The cameras in Littleton were temporarily deactivated May 12, “to allow the Select Board and municipal staff time to review the technology, better understand the available system features and operational capabilities, and evaluate policy considerations before any future decisions are made,” according to a frequently asked questions page about the cameras on the town’s website.
The town administrator’s office, Wilson and spokespeople for Flock Safety did not immediately return requests for comment by The Sun early Friday afternoon. Police Chief Douglas Landry declined to comment, citing the removal of the cameras as “a town decision.”
Flock’s system of ALPR cameras has become a point of controversy in many communities whose police departments use the cameras. Law enforcement proponents of the cameras in multiple Greater Lowell communities have argued that the cameras have played a significant role in quickly solving crimes and helping investigations. Opponents of the cameras often argue that they are a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and cite the cameras as an invasion of privacy and an example of mass surveillance.
Littleton is one of several communities in Greater Lowell with a contract with Flock. Others include Billerica, Lowell and Tewksbury.
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