EAST PROVIDENCE — Long sought after by the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva, and supported by the East Providence Police Department, the City Council unanimously approved the purchase of an automated license plate detection system from the tech outfit Flock Group Inc. at its May 2 meeting.

The administration originally attempted to gain the backing of the body back in 2021 when the proposal was presented to the previously-seated Council.

That quintet opted not to move on the matter as it came on the heels of the then new speed control camera units placed at points around the city.

The contract then called for the purchase of 16 or 17 cameras and just a two-year deal between the sides.

Last week, EPPD Chief Christopher Francesconi spoke on behalf of the administration, reaffirming how the system functions and its specific uses.

The city/police department is entering into a five-year contract with Flock at a total cost of $297,700.

Francesconi told the Council the pact calls for the purchase of 22 fixed cameras at a cost of $2,500 apiece. Installation of each camera costs $350. The contract also includes the purchase of one portable unit.

Francesconi said since the city had been engaged with Flock for some two years, the company "grandfathered" in prices from that initial time period. Now, the cameras cost $3,000 each with an installation tag of $650. In total, the city will save over $64,000 in current costs.

The money to pay for the license plate readers comes from the department's asset forfeiture allocation. It is not a fiscal year budgetary line item expenditure.

The chief said the city will pay all of the contract up front. However, if during the duration of the contract any legislative body limits or bans the use of the cameras, the city will get the balance of the money back.

The agenda item last week was co-sponsored by Ward 4 member Rick Lawson and his Ward 1 colleague Frank Rego.

Lawson, noting the weariness of some residents in regard to the existing speed control cameras dotting the city, said the Flock apparatus are "license plate readers. These are not speed cameras. They're not an enforcement tool. Nobody is going to get a ticket. These cameras are an investigative tool for the East Providence Police Department."

The cameras take pictures of the rear of vehicles. The data is stored for 30 days and then is expunged entirely unless a piece is being used for an ongoing investigation.

Lawson, who has voiced opposition to some speed control cameras, said he was "swayed" to support the license plate readers because of such emergencies like "Amber Alerts" for missing children.

Rego said the readers were "just another tool to help people go after the bad guys."

"This is a tremendous public safety tool, an incredible investigatory tool," said Francesconi. "It gives us real time alerts in certain situations like stolen vehicles, 'Amber Alerts' or a nationally wanted person."

The chief reiterated the readers "are not used for traffic enforcement...they're not tied to any personal identification system."

He added the data is not sold to any outside party. It's owned by the city. It can be shared with other public safety/law enforcement departments, but only if they signed and abide by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Francesconi continued, saying the Flock system "has a tremendous track record solving crime nationally and locally." It is currently being used in Cranston, Warwick and Providence. The chief said neighboring Seekonk had either installed or was planning to implement the system as well.

Of privacy concerns expressed by critics of the Flock cameras, Francesconi said the system can be easily audited internally while there is a forward facing aspect that allows the public to access the metrics of the system.

The chief said EPPD officers on the beat can have real time access, but have to go through their shift supervisor.

Existing department parameters, he continued, prevent any police personnel from going on "fishing expeditions." In addition, the department's office of professional standards will review usage four times a year.

"We handle very sensitive information on a daily basis. We have strict guidelines in place on how that information is handled... It's highly regulated," Francesconi added.

The chief was asked by Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa, one of the two incumbents remaining on the body since the original solicitation, about the change in the amount of cameras and length of the detail from the 2021 approach.

Francesconi said after further review the administration found "some gaps...wanted to cover other areas." And the purchase of a portable unit was deemed worthy if "we have an issue in a certain neighborhood with vandalism, theft, we can cover that specific area."

Following Council approval, the Flock system will be purchased, installed and likely become active at some point over the next few months, but no specific timetable was offered up by either side at last week's meeting.