Dutchess County’s sheriff and district attorney announced Friday morning that they are withdrawing their support for the county’s continued use of Flock Safety technology, a significant reversal following weeks of public scrutiny over the network of cameras and license plate readers.
Sheriff Kirk Imperati and District Attorney Anthony Parisi said in a joint news release issued Sept. 25 that they reached the decision after discussing concerns raised by residents at recent community forums.
“Sheriff Imperati and I met following several community forums and spent considerable time discussing what we heard from residents,” Parisi said in the release. “We listened to the questions that were asked and the concerns that were raised. After those discussions, we agreed that the appropriate response is to listen to our community and change course.”
The announcement comes after county officials held public forums on Flock and the county’s Analysis and Real Time Crime Intelligence Center, known as ARTCIC. Residents questioned officials about privacy, data sharing, cybersecurity and oversight of the technology.
“I continue to believe this technology can help law enforcement locate dangerous offenders, find missing people, recover stolen vehicles and investigate serious crimes,” Imperati said. “But believing a technology can be useful does not mean government should continue using it when the people it serves have raised serious concerns.”
The change represents a sharp turn for two officials who had been among the leading supporters of the county’s real-time crime center and its use of Flock cameras. Earlier this year, County Executive Sue Serino highlighted the partnership with Imperati and Parisi and said the technology allowed law enforcement to monitor video feeds and respond to crimes as they unfolded.
Flock Safety makes automated license plate readers and other camera systems used by police departments around the country. In Dutchess County, the technology has become the subject of growing scrutiny from residents and local officials over how data is collected, shared and governed.
Friday’s announcement does not mean the cameras will immediately be turned off or removed.
Parisi and Imperati said they would work with other county officials to determine how to discontinue Dutchess County’s use of Flock, including addressing existing contracts and other operational obligations.
“We asked people to come out, learn about this technology, ask hard questions and tell us what they thought,” Parisi said. “They did exactly that. We cannot ask the public to participate in the process and then disregard what they tell us.”
The two officials also defended their original decision to support the system, saying it was intended to help investigate serious crimes and improve public safety.
“Our commitment to public safety has not changed,” Parisi said. “We will keep working every day to protect the people of Dutchess County, and we will keep listening to them as we do.”
This is a developing story.
This development is an extraordinary tribute to the power of local journalism in general–and to the New Pine Plains Herald in particular. Patrick Grego’s contribution here–including securing tapes of calls in which the PP supervisor participated–deserves acclamation.