Straight answers about Flock.

Automated license plate readers sold by Flock Safety. They record the license plate, make, color and other features of every vehicle that passes them.

Thirty days. Times Hudson Valley reported on Nov. 4, 2026, that the Town “currently stores camera images for 30 days,” and the Town’s Flock Order Form lists a 30-day retention period. At the Oct. 29 presentation, the Police Chief said the department was exploring cutting that to seven days. No change has been announced.

The Town’s own records show its Flock network has been shared with the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center since May 1, 2024. At the Town’s public presentation on Oct. 29, 2026, the Police Chief acknowledged that agencies outside the Town had searched its camera database, including a Homeland Security Investigations search dated Jan. 13, 2025, Times Hudson Valley reported. Asked whether that search had helped deport someone, he said he didn’t know. He said the Town generally limits outside agencies to searching for a specific plate, with the Crime Analysis Center as the exception. On Oct. 13, the Town Attorney ruled that the Town must release the records of outside agencies that asked for or got access to Town data. As of Nov. 7, it hasn’t.

At the Oct. 29 presentation, the Police Chief said, “we are doing audits and audits have been done. And those audit logs are being released.” In response to our records requests, the Town has handed over search logs, which Flock calls audit logs, but no audit: no review of how the cameras are used, no findings and no search totals. When the Town marked records request 2026-00989 “filled” on Oct. 22, those were missing.

When the Board approved 56 cameras in March 2024, the police department’s written rule was a 2011 order written for one plate reader on a patrol car. Its current policy, Policy 424, a stock Lexipol template, took effect in 2025, according to the police department.

Yes. At the Oct. 29 presentation, the Police Chief said the Town could discontinue the program without owing additional money, though he believed it would need to give 30 days’ notice, Times Hudson Valley reported. The contract renews on its own, two years at a time, unless either side gives notice at least 30 days before a term ends. And if the Town doesn’t budget the money, the agreement lets it end the contract “for non appropriation with thirty (30) days written notice without penalty or other cost.”

City Police Chief Brandon Rola’s Aug. 27, 2026, memo to the City Council summarizes “outside agency searches that included the CNPD LPR network from October 2024 through 2026.” The memo adds that inclusion of the City’s network in a search “does not establish that the search returned or displayed a CNPD LPR detection.” On Sept. 28 the Council voted to end the City’s use of Flock.