Cumberland residents urge council to cancel Flock camera contract

22 August 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

At the Cumberland Town Council meeting on August 19, 2026, six residents used the public comment period to urge the town to cancel its contract with Flock Safety and remove the company's automated license plate reader cameras from town roads. No vote was taken and the matter was not on the council agenda. Council President Michael Kinch indicated that a fuller review would occur after consultation with the town solicitor due to pending litigation [verify: lawsuit details and parties].

Cumberland's Flock Safety contract is set for renewal next year. The immediate context for the discussion is a federal lawsuit filed by an East Providence resident who alleges that a Flock camera misidentified her vehicle and led to her wrongful arrest [verify: case name, court, filing date]. This litigation has delayed any council action on the contract. The cameras were originally presented to the council by the police chief in 2024 as license plate readers and have reportedly been used in criminal investigations, including an Attleboro robbery case.

Residents and advocates raised concerns about the cameras' scope and security. One speaker, describing himself as an engineer, cited 33 confirmed security vulnerabilities in the cameras according to the National Vulnerability Database and stated the devices have not undergone third-party security audits. He described potential exploits including hardcoded Wi-Fi credentials. Another speaker noted that Flock's updated contract terms grant the company broad data control, and referenced reports of misuse of similar systems by law enforcement. One caller suggested the council bring the police chief back for questioning about data retention policies rather than immediate cancellation.

Cumberland residents can monitor the town council's next regular meeting, scheduled for two weeks after August 19, and watch for notice of any scheduled review of the Flock contract or further town solicitor consultation. Residents in other municipalities can review their own town council agendas and minutes to check contract renewal dates and whether similar public discussion has occurred.

Read the original reporting: Uprise RI.