POUGHKEEPSIE – On Tuesday, after hearing community members rally against the License Plate Readers (LPRs), a majority of the Common Council voted to end all contracts with , the city’s provider of LPRs and gunshot detection devices. Despite no evidence of local misuse of the technology, council members cited misuse in other parts of the country. The council also failed to consider the planned expansion of the Flock system, which includes installing speed cameras and red light cameras in 2027, linked to the existing LPRs and gunshot detection devices. Only Councilman Nathan Shook opposed the resolution.
Mayor Yvonne Flowers, an advocate for Flock technology who lobbied to install LPRs on the city’s northside while she was on the council, disagreed with the council’s decision on Tuesday.
“The City of Poughkeepsie has a responsibility to protect residents, visitors, and neighborhoods while ensuring that public safety technology is used responsibly and subject to appropriate safeguards,” Flowers said on Wednesday, announcing her intention to veto the council’s resolution. “I believe a decision with significant public safety implications should not move forward without a comprehensive review of its consequences.”
Police and parking enforcement departments also use LPRs to identify various forms of scofflaw offenses. LPRs can help generate more than $1 million annually through parking and traffic fines. Ending the Flock contracts would hinder the city’s ability to collect those fines.
Mayor Flowers acknowledged public concerns about potential misuse by law enforcement and highlighted the current safeguards. “Residents deserve confidence that public safety tools are used appropriately and that meaningful safeguards are in place. These concerns warrant serious consideration, but they must be weighed alongside the potential consequences of eliminating existing public safety capabilities.”
Flowers was concerned that, despite the history of Flock Safety in Poughkeepsie that has helped solve murder cases, assisted in identifying individuals connected to criminal activity, and provided alerts relevant to ongoing investigations, the council’s blanket demand to end all contracts with Flock would also require the use of the gunshot detection system, further hindering the efforts of law enforcement. “Before eliminating these capabilities, we must understand the operational implications of their removal, and what effective alternatives are available.”
Flowers, who was not given prior notice of the plan put forth by Councilmen Evan Menist and Daniel Atonna, was concerned that the council failed to discuss their plan with her administration or the police department prior to Tuesday’s vote. “I had asked the Council to table the proposal so that we could evaluate its implications together and develop a responsible path forward. Decisions of this magnitude require coordination among the officials responsible for public safety, municipal operations, and policy oversight.”
The City’s Flock contract is scheduled to end in January 2027.
“Poughkeepsie residents deserve both effective public safety and respect for their privacy,” Flowers said, adding, “We should not have to choose between them.”
Flowers is calling for the Council to meet with her administration and the police department to discuss alternatives that will continue to protect the public.
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