08/31/2026
TOWN OF GROTON TO TERMINATE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERA CONTRACT, COMMIT TO DEVELOPING PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR SPRING 2027 TOWN MEETING
August 31, 2026
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Town of Groton to Terminate Flock Safety Camera Contract, Commit to Developing Permanent Solution for Spring 2027 Town Meeting
GROTON, MA - Town Manager Mark Haddad and Police Chief Michael Luth announced today that the Town will terminate its current contract with Flock Safety, the vendor supplying the Police Department's automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera system, effective immediately. The decision follows several weeks of internal review and reflects the Town's commitment to getting this issue right rather than rushing it.
"These cameras have been a genuinely valuable tool for our officers, and they have helped us solve real cases and keep our residents safer," said Chief Luth. "But we've also listened carefully to the concerns raised by our community, and we recognize that trust and transparency have to come first. Stepping back now gives us the room to build something better, together."
The Town's Police Camera Working Group, which has spent recent months studying the technology, its benefits, and the legitimate privacy and oversight concerns raised by residents, will continue its work uninterrupted. The Working Group's goal is to bring a final, permanent recommendation to voters at the Spring 2027 Town Meeting. The recommendation will be fully vetted, reflect community input, and address the questions raised over the past several months.
"This isn't a step away from public safety, and it isn't a step away from supporting our Police Department," said Town Manager Mark Haddad. "It's a decision to slow down, do this right, and come back to Town Meeting with a solution that the community can have real confidence in. I remain a strong supporter of our Police Department and the work they do every day, and this decision is about giving that work the best possible foundation going forward."
The Town's decision comes amid a broader statewide trend. In recent months, numerous Massachusetts communities, including Easton, Littleton, Cambridge, Watertown, Framingham, Natick, Brookline, Salem, Hopkinton, Wellesley, Bellingham, Douglas, Grafton, and East Bridgewater, have terminated, declined to renew, or otherwise ended their Flock Safety contracts, citing concerns ranging from data privacy and out-of-state data sharing to questions about proper oversight of the technology. Groton joins this growing list of communities choosing to pause, reassess, and pursue a more deliberate, community-informed path forward.
Officials emphasized that terminating the current contract now, ahead of the Fall Town Meeting, allows the Working Group to proceed without the pressure or distraction of a contested Town Meeting vote. The Working Group will continue to meet in the coming months, and will provide opportunities for public input as it develops its recommendation ahead of the 2027 Spring Town Meeting. Updates will be shared on the Town's website and through the Police Department's social media channels.
For more information, please contact the Town Manager’s Office.
Mark W. Haddad Town Manager Michael Luth Chief of Police
