2 North Shore Police Officers Suspended After Suspected Flock Abuse

LYNN, MA — Two North Shore police officers are on paid administrative leave in the latest case of suspected abuse of the Flock license plate camera tracking system.

Lynn Police Chief Ashley Affonco on Thursday said the search anomalies were found in an audit of department surveillance monitoring using a tool provided by Flock.

"This review revealed a concerning pattern in some searches," Chief Affonco said. "If it is determined that an officer conducted searches in violation of department policy, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

"It is also important to note that based on the detailed analysis conducted, none of the searches pertained to or were involved with immigration enforcement."

• Salem To End Flock Camera Pact, Will Keep Public Safety Surveillance

The potential abuse of Flock LPR data has been an increasingly divisive issue across the state in recent months — with some North Shore residents raising concerns about how federal agencies such as ICE could obtain that information and use it for immigration enforcement, and mounting cases of audits showing that police personnel accessed that information and used it to surveil residents for personal reasons.

Flock representatives have said that those audits show that the company is providing technology designed to catch those potential abuses.

Last month, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo announced that the city would not renew its contract with Flock when it expires — but instead will seek out another LPR system with more city control over data collected.

Beverly has also been a center of debate about the Flock system — with law enforcement officials calling LPRs an increasingly vital tool in solving crimes and locating individuals who may be missing and in danger, and concerned residents expressing worries about civil liberty violations.

• Beverly's License Plate Camera Merits Debated, Challenged At City Council Meeting

Affonco said, in response to the audit, that Lynn is restricting the number of department personnel who can access the surveillance information.

"The use of technology is an essential part of public safety operations," Chief Affonco said. "We have experienced the benefits of in numerous investigations, including incidents of homicide, gun violence, breaking and entering, hit and run, and more.

"With those benefits come the responsibility to engage in ongoing public review to ensure that advances in technology are met with relevant and effective safeguards."