Lynn police now limit their plate reader system to lieutenants and above, generally keep bulk plate data no more than seven days and require weekly audits. Police Chief Christopher Kelly laid out the policy at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
The Daily Item reported that residents at that meeting raised concerns about privacy, data sharing and the department's transparency around its Flock cameras.
What does the new Lynn policy require?
The policy, updated Sept. 29, sets these rules:
- Only authorized users with required training can access the system, and each one needs approval from Chief Kelly.
- Access is limited to lieutenants and above, as set by the ALPR administrator or another designated official.
- Every search must tie to a legitimate law enforcement or public safety purpose, with a documented reason and a case number.
- Bulk plate data cannot be kept for more than seven days, except where law or a court order requires longer, or data is lawfully preserved for an investigation or records request.
- The captain of administration audits system activity weekly and refers concerning use to Internal Affairs or another authority.
- The city owns the data, and it cannot be shared outside Massachusetts, including with federal agencies, unless required by law or covered by a legally authorized exception.
The policy also bans use for personal reasons, harassment, discrimination, immigration enforcement and monitoring people for their politics, protected speech, reproductive health care or lawful religious, labor and civic activity.
Kelly put the retention rule plainly, saying, "The retention is seven days. There’s no gray area. That’s a black and white issue." The department had already cut retention from 30 days to seven, so the policy mostly formalizes and extends a change made in September.
Why did Lynn rewrite the rules now?
Two Lynn officers were placed on paid administrative leave in August. An audit that followed turned up what the department called a "concerning pattern" in some searches. A Swampscott officer was placed on leave in September over possible misuse of Lynn's system.
What changes for drivers in Lynn?
The policy governs how Lynn police search and keep data from the department's 23 Flock cameras, which sit on heavily traveled roads and at key intersections. It does not say the cameras are coming down. The source does not say whether the city plans to end its contract.
The contract was signed June 29 and runs until June 29, 2028. Key figures:
- Annual recurring cost: around $30,000
- Two-year total, including implementation: $64,000
- Termination: allowed if the city is not satisfied with the cameras
- Removal: $500 per camera, or about $12,000 for all 23
You can check what agencies publish about their own systems in published transparency records, and see where cameras sit on the camera map. For background on what these systems record, read how plate readers work.
What are residents still asking for?
Isa Leshko, founder and editor of North Shore Progressives, criticized the department for declining to release organizational and network audits because of ongoing investigations. She argued that active-investigation details could be redacted instead of withholding the records in full. Kelly said the department complies with public-records requests and that large Flock data requests take extra time to compile and redact.
Residents also asked for greater public oversight and, in some cases, removal of the cameras entirely. Useful questions to bring to a meeting: which audit records are withheld, how many records requests are open, and what the weekly audit findings show.
What happens next?
Councilor Jordan Avery's motion passed unanimously. It requires:
- Regular Lynn Police updates over the next 90 days on system use, compliance, safeguards and any misuse or unauthorized access
- Legal department options and proposed next steps within 45 days
- A full council review of the issue within 90 days