LIVE: Quincy City Council Public Hearing & Oversight Committee - October 5, 2026

Quincy City Council Oversight Committee public hearing and meeting on the city’s use of Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, called to order October 6, 2026, although the meeting metadata lists October 5. Residents, the police chief, the Norfolk County district attorney, an ACLU representative, an economics professor, and technology and community speakers discussed the cameras’ investigative value, privacy and constitutional concerns, data security, vendor practices, and oversight. Chief Mark Kennedy said Quincy has 49 ALPR cameras and one Flock Condor camera, has disabled nationwide and external agency sharing, reduced retention from 30 to 14 days, and added required search fields, user training, and audits. The chief cited an average cost of about $3,000 per camera annually; roughly 75% is grant-funded, leaving approximately $50,000 in the city budget. He also confirmed the cameras are leased, and the cost and legal implications of ending the contracts remain to be clarified.

No motion or vote on the Flock order, contract cancellation, or a replacement vendor was taken; the chair had stated that the hearing was for information and testimony. Council members raised follow-up questions about costs, contract terms and renewal, independent auditing, camera numbers, and legal consequences of cancellation. Speakers and some council members called for ending the Flock contracts or requiring council approval and public discussion before adopting another ALPR system, while the chief argued that the technology helps investigations and should remain subject to safeguards. The council voted by voice to extend the public testimony period by nine minutes, then later voted to adjourn the committee meeting and close the public hearing. No procurement award or new spending authorization was identified.