Milford Officials Weigh Future Of Controversial Flock Cameras

MILFORD, CT — Milford officials will continue discussing the city’s use of Flock Safety license plate readers after residents raised privacy, transparency and constitutional concerns during Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Following about three hours of public comment, the board voted 8-6 to table until September a resolution calling for the city to pause and review its camera systems.

The proposal would stop the use, installation or expansion of Flock cameras and other surveillance devices while the city conducts a 90-day review.

Several Milford residents focused on Flock’s searchable database, which records license plates, locations and times. One resident said a records request showed that the system captured his vehicle 168 times as he traveled around Milford.

"I haven't done anything wrong," the resident said. "Why does the city need this information on me?"

Residents argued that the system collects information about people who are not suspected of crimes. They also questioned who can search the data, how it is shared and whether it is reliably deleted.

Residents also argued that the cameras violate Fourth Amendment rights, which protect citizens from unreasonable search and seizure.

"I understand the value technology can provide, but I also understand the importance of protecting privacy, civil liberties and personal data," one resident said.

Police Chief Keith Mello defended the license plate readers during the meeting, saying they help officers identify stolen vehicles and investigate serious crimes. Police said they used the technology to identify a suspect in a recent homicide case.

Related: Man Charged With Murder In Double Shooting: Milford Police

The cameras were placed near highway exits, city entry points and other major roads, Mello said. Police can receive alerts when vehicles connected to crimes or active warrants enter Milford.

Mello said the database also allows police to search for a vehicle after a crime. Investigators could use details such as a vehicle’s color and part of its license plate to identify possible matches.

“That’s how we solve crime,” Mello said.

Mello said access is limited to selected employees in the police department’s real time information center. Searches require a legal basis along with a case or event number, and activity is audited, he said.

The department has also reduced its data retention period from 30 days to 21 days, Mello said. He said Milford does not share data nationwide and that the system blocks searches involving immigration enforcement, reproductive care and other areas protected by Connecticut law.

Mello pointed to higher clearance rates for several crimes since the readers were installed. He also said vehicle thefts have fallen but acknowledged that he could not say Flock was responsible for that decline.

Flock license plate readers are separate from Milford’s recently installed speed-enforcement cameras, Mello said. Flock cameras do not measure speed, and revenue from speeding citations does not pay for the license plate reader program.

Related: Speeding Camera Results Are In After First Weeks In Milford

Several of the city's Flock license plate cameras were vandalized and knocked down last month. The cameras were installed last year.

Related: License Plate Cameras Vandalized In Milford: Reports

Full video of the Board of Aldermen meeting is available by clicking here.