DUTCHESS COUNTY – The Dutchess County Legislature passed a resolution Tuesday requiring that existing Flock License Plate Readers (LPRs) be covered or otherwise made unavailable for use throughout the county until they are removed. across the county that are integral to the county’s .
Citing instances of misuse of Flock cameras and other poor investigations across the country, County Legislator Brendan Lawler (D-Hyde Park) emphasized the need to end LPR use in Dutchess County. Despite being unable to cite one instance of LPR misuse in Dutchess County, Lawler said, “As more and more information comes out about the dangers that Flock continues to increase, specifically for public safety itself,” and called for the cameras to be shuttered.
Lawler said on Tuesday, “We have to make it a point and a priority where safety is critical, but our liberty is even more important, when our liberty is threatened by a company that can do anything with that data – anything with that information.”
Dutchess County DA Anthony Parisi, also a Democrat, spoke to Mid-Hudson News after the legislature passed its latest resolution.
“Sheriff Imperati and I made the decision to deactivate and remove the Flock LPR cameras after listening to the concerns expressed by members of our community. The cameras have been offline since September 25, and we have already requested their removal. I respect the Legislature’s decision to provide additional reassurance to the public while that process is completed.”
Turning toward the legislature’s measures to curtail crime-fighting investigations through ARCTIC, Parisi said, “Our focus must now turn to what comes next. We have made significant gains in public safety throughout Dutchess County, and we cannot afford to lose that progress. Decommissioning this technology has created a gap in our investigative capabilities that we must address. I am committed to working collaboratively with Sheriff Imperati, County Executive Serino, and the County Legislature to develop a responsible, effective public safety plan that preserves the progress we have made, provides law enforcement with the resources necessary to protect our communities, and respects the privacy and civil liberties of every resident. Ultimately, our shared responsibility is to ensure that the people of Dutchess County remain safe.”
The resolution will now go to Country Executive Sue Serino, who can approve or veto the bill.
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