Narragansett votes to remove Flock cameras

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. — Narragansett has become the second Rhode Island community in a week to end its partnership with Flock Safety, with the Town Council voting unanimously Monday night to terminate the town’s contract for automated license plate reader cameras.

The decision follows a similar move by South Kingstown, which recently voted to discontinue its use of the camera system.

Flock Safety’s fixed, solar-powered cameras capture license plate information and vehicle characteristics, creating a searchable database that can alert law enforcement when a vehicle matches entries on law enforcement hotlists.

The company’s technology has drawn increasing scrutiny in Rhode Island and across the country, with critics raising concerns about privacy and whether information collected through the system could be accessed by federal agencies, including those involved in immigration enforcement.

Police chief defends technology

Before the vote, Narragansett Police Chief Kyle Rekas urged the council to keep the system, pointing to cases in which the cameras have assisted law enforcement.

According to Rekas, Flock cameras have helped locate missing children, endangered adults, and people with dementia. He also said the technology has aided investigations involving stolen vehicles, shootings, robberies, assaults, and carjackings by providing information that might not otherwise have been available.

Rekas said the cameras have allowed officers to solve crimes more quickly and, in some instances, prevent additional crimes.

Opponents cite privacy concerns

Former Town Councilman Jesse Pugh voiced support for the police department while arguing against continued participation in the program.

Pugh said his opposition was rooted in concerns over what he described as a growing surveillance network operated by a private, for-profit company. He argued that communities have the ability to choose whether to participate and that Flock’s expansion depends on municipalities agreeing to install the systems.

Following public discussion, the Town Council voted unanimously to terminate the agreement, which had originally been scheduled to remain in effect through 2027.