10/14/2026
A Message to Our Community: Flock Safety Cameras and Public Trust
Following last night's City Council meeting regarding the use of Flock Safety cameras, I wanted to share a few thoughts and hopefully address some of the concerns raised.
One of the biggest questions was whether Malden Police can regulate how other law enforcement agencies use information obtained through our cameras. The short answer is that we cannot directly control another department's internal policies or practices. While we cannot directly control another department’s internal policies, they are subject to the same disclosures and auditing requirements. Also, The Malden Police receives records and audit information identifying which users conducted any searches involving our shared data. This provides an additional layer of accountability and allows us to retain records for future reference, should questions or investigative need arise. Every search conducted in Flock generates a digital audit trail identifying the user etc, providing for accountability and review. While we can establish restrictions on access to our camera data, we also expect our law enforcement partners to use this technology responsibly, just as we expect of ourselves.
What I found encouraging about last night's discussion was the apparent recognition that Malden Police is using this technology appropriately, with the intention of keeping our community safe. That matters to us.
Society is changing, and it's changing quickly. Modern policing requires us to adapt, and technology is part of that. But with new technology comes responsibility, and sometimes legitimate concerns.
One of those concerns is the potential for information to be misused, whether by law enforcement or anyone else with access to sensitive data. That concern is understandable. The reality is that almost anything can be misused. We've seen that throughout society. The important question is what we are doing to minimize that possibility.
Our responsibility at Malden Police is to make sure that the technology we use serves a legitimate law enforcement purpose, is used responsibly, and respects the community we serve.
Chief Gatcomb spoke to that responsibility during last night's presentation, with assistance from Detective Mulcahy. We hope their presentation provided some clarity and helped address concerns. We also recognize that some residents may still have questions, and that's understandable.
Link to presentation: https://www.youtube.com/live/pAqsXUr2PQk?si=lSpDlUSH7OqUpRYj&t=1446
Public trust isn't something we should expect simply because we wear a uniform. It's something we have to continue earning through our actions, our accountability, and our willingness to have these conversations.
For anyone who would like to learn more, we've included three links below. We encourage residents to take a few minutes to review them.
Malden PD Transparency Portal
https://transparency.flocksafety.com/malden-ma-pd
Malden Police Department ALPR Policy
https://www.cityofmalden.org/DocumentCenter/View/6943/License-Plate-Readers-ALPR-Systems-PDF
Flock Safety Trust & Privacy Hub
https://www.flocksafety.com/trust
As always, stay safe and be well.
Det. Lieutenant Mike Powell
Public Information Officer
Malden Police Department
