Narragansett, RI
The Narragansett Town Council voted 5-0 by voice vote on August 3, 2026 to cancel the town's contract with Flock Safety and take its remaining cameras out of service immediately. The contract ran through September 2027 with automatic renewal and was paid from asset forfeiture funds rather than tax revenue. Three of the town's four cameras were still operational at the time of the vote, one having been stolen.
What moved this decision
- Privacy and mass surveillance objections from a majority of public speakers and councilors
- Absence of state regulation governing ALPR data sharing in Rhode Island
- Concerns about data shared with outside agencies without oversight
- Low local crime rate calling the program’s necessity into question
- Contention that the original 2024 authorization was a one-year pilot that was never properly renewed
What happened afterwards
The three remaining cameras were taken out of service immediately following the vote. The town solicitor had not completed a financial review when the council voted; the early-termination exposure was estimated at roughly $12,600 for the final contract year plus additional penalties. The council acted over the objection of Police Chief Kyle Rekas, who supported the cameras. The ACLU of Rhode Island backed the cancellation.
What we still don’t know
These are the records we would need to describe this decision completely. If you can help obtain them, or already have them, get in touch.
- The final early-termination cost once the town solicitor completed the financial review
- Whether the stolen camera was ever recovered or replaced