Full Breakdown
Flock License Plate Readers Under Scrutiny After New Bedford Officer Alleged Misuse
8/15/2026, 3:31:32 AM
Alleged Misuse by a New Bedford Officer
An affidavit filed in New Bedford District Court alleges Officer Emily Pacheco used the city’s Flock Safety license-plate-reader system to track her former girlfriend after their relationship ended in April 2026. The plaintiff described “endless calls,” unannounced visits and a police cruiser that followed her while on duty. Court records show the officer ran 18 searches in April, 259 in May and 220 in June—the highest volume among NBPD officers that year—most entered as “traffic infraction.” A judge issued a six-month abuse-prevention order, suspending Pacheco’s firearms license and placing her on administrative leave pending an internal-affairs investigation.
Background on Flock Technology
Flock Safety manufactures automated license-plate-reader (ALPR) cameras that capture a vehicle’s plate, make, model, color and distinctive features. The company reports 120,000 cameras operating in 49 states, serving more than 5,000 law-enforcement agencies and 6,000 communities. Data are stored in a cloud network and can be searched across jurisdictions without a warrant. Agencies tout the tools for locating missing persons and stolen vehicles; critics note reports of officers using the system to stalk ex-partners, monitor protest participants and conduct “curiosity searches.”
Official Statements & Responses
“When the individual makes a complaint against the officer for stalking him or being aggressive, we would be able to back into that and find it, and that may turn a misconduct investigation into a termination case,” — Jason Thody, police chief
“The New Bedford Police Union is aware of an ongoing internal investigation involving Officer Pacheco. Due to the investigation being open and ongoing there will be no further comment at this time,” — Officer Lorenzo Gonzalez, union president
“Allegations of police misuse of surveillance technology and databases for personal reasons highlight the need for robust, effective democratic oversight, transparency, and accountability,” — Gideon Epstein, ACLU of Massachusetts
“These changes reflect years of work and deliberation,” — Garrett Langley, Flock CEO
Criticism & Opposition
Civil-rights advocates argue the reforms are insufficient. “Mass government surveillance has gotten completely out of control and needs to be reined in immediately,” — Chad Marlow
Chris Gilliard, author of *Luxury Surveillance*, called the system “incompatible with a free society.”
Robert Frommer of the Institute for Justice dismissed the updates as “window dressing,” asserting that only judicial warrants can curb police misuse.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The company’s seven-day default retention conflicts with some city policies that still list a 30-day period, and the “evidence mode” exception lacks clear limits, leaving open the possibility of indefinite storage. No independent audit of the new audit-assistance tool has been released, creating uncertainty about its effectiveness.
What’s Next
New Bedford city councilors have filed motions for a hearing to consider suspending Flock use pending ordinance development. The department plans to complete its internal review of Officer Pacheco’s conduct in the coming weeks. Flock has pledged to make audit assistance mandatory for all customers by year-end and to enforce the seven-day retention default, though agencies may still request extensions for active investigations. Community groups continue to organize protests and petitions, and several municipalities are drafting ordinances to limit or terminate their contracts with the company.
