BELLINGHAM — The Bellingham Police Department will not be renewing its contract with Flock Safety when the current agreement expires on Sept. 4, 2026, Bellingham Police Chief Kenneth Fitzgerald announced.
“After reviewing the service and our experience with the company, I have decided not to renew the contract,” Chief Fitzgerald wrote in a statement issued on Aug. 26. “Our main concerns are pricing and transparency.”
Chief Fitzgerald said that, last year, Flock tried to modify some of the terms of the department’s service and access, while the contract was still in place.
“That raised concerns for me about our relationship with the company,” Chief Fitzgerald added.
The department later learned during a criminal investigation that Flock’s “Free Form” feature was available through cameras used by the Bellingham Police Department.
“Flock describes Free Form as an AI-powered tool that can search video information using plain-language searches,” Chief Fitzgerald said. “Those features go beyond what most people would think of as a traditional license plate reader. That concerned me because I had previously told the public, based on our understanding of the system, that our Flock technology was a license plate reader only.”
Chief Fitzgerald said he was unaware of the broader Free Form features available through the platform and he did not believe they had been clearly identified or explained to the department.
Residents had also raised concerns about the technology, which Chief Fitzgerald said contributed to his decision.
“Public concern, together with our concerns about pricing and transparency regarding the system’s capabilities, led me to decide not to renew the contract,” Chief Fitzgerald said.
Chief Fitzgerald noted several downsides to ending the Flock Safety contract, namely prolonged investigations and a reduced ability to quickly identify vehicles connected to crimes. He said the system had assisted the department in several investigations but that he was uncomfortable continuing the relationship with the company under the current circumstances.
Chief Fitzgerald said the department will continue complying with Massachusetts Public Records Law, including responding to pending requests involving the technology.
“Any Flock cameras that remain visible in Bellingham after our contract ends are privately owned and funded,” Chief Fitzgerald said. He added that the Flock cameras that remain in Bellingham after Sept. 4 will not be operated or funded by the Bellingham Police Department.
“We will continue to evaluate other public-safety technology that is effective, fairly priced, and clear about what it can and cannot do,” Chief Fitzgerald said.
