Providence Police Department

The Providence Police Department's own page on automated licence plate readers says there are 'currently 60 FLOCK ALPR cameras in use' in the city and 45 authorised Flock users in the department. It says use began in April 2022 with a 25-camera pilot and that more cameras were added a little more than a year later. The department describes Flock as 'an investigative tool to help identify and locate vehicles connected to criminal investigations', says it has memoranda of understanding with nine partner law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island, and says any future change to deployment would go through the City's public procurement process. The page carries no publication date. WJAR (NBC 10) reported on 15 October 2026 that the City Council voted unanimously to send to committee a proposed ordinance banning the city's use of Flock licence plate readers, which would require the city to stop using them and end existing agreements if enacted; Mayor Brett Smiley defended the technology and Police Chief Oscar Perez said he had not been consulted. The Boston Globe reported on 27 October 2026 that the cameras remain in use, that the city's Flock contract ends in May 2027, and that the presumptive incoming mayor, David Morales, has promised not to renew it. Governor Dan McKee urged cities and towns on 18 August 2026 to pause installing new cameras.