PLEASANT VALLEY — Dozens of residents and several local officials gathered Tuesday for a public forum on the use of Flock brand crime-fighting technology and license plate readers (LPRs) in Dutchess County. The event, hosted by Legislator Eric Alexander, D-Amenia, chairman of the legislature’s Public Safety Committee, featured District Attorney Anthony Parisi and Sheriff Kirk Imperati, who joined Alexander to listen to community concerns about the technology.
The term Flock has come to refer to License Plate Reader cameras, known as LPRs. Dutchess County Sheriff Chief Deputy Reverri explains LPRs in the video above or by .
Currently, as part of a joint effort between the sheriff’s office and the district attorney, known as the incidents in other parts of the country where law enforcement officers allegedly misused such data.
Parisi and Imperati said ongoing audits ensure the system is secure and transparent. The LPRs are a collaboration among the district attorney, sheriff and local police agencies, including the City of Poughkeepsi.
Some elected officials, including County Legislator Emma Arnoff, D-Pleasant Valley, said they are skeptical of the technology. “I am very concerned about Flock cameras,” Arnoff said, adding, “As a social worker, I’d have more social workers and many less cameras.” Legislator Lisa Kaul, D-Town of Poughkeepsie, called the system “an egregious abuse of power.”
After the forum, Alexander said residents’ concerns will be considered as the county legislature reviews future policy and budget proposals. “Their voices have been heard and their government is going to act on their behalf,” he said.
Sheriff Imperati emphasized the effectiveness and transparency of the county’s system. “People are concerned about their civil liberties and their freedoms and they fear their freedoms are being taken away,” he said. “There’s a proper form of checks and balances with the Flock camera system … We have extensive policies and procedures and we hold our people accountable.”
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