New Bedford police suspend license plate reader system following officer misconduct allegations

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The New Bedford Police Department suspended its city-wide Flock Safety license plate reader network following an internal investigation into officer Emily Pacheco. Authorities discovered a high volume of searches linked to the license plate of Pacheco’s former girlfriend, with records showing the officer conducted 259 searches in May and 220 in June after the relationship ended in April. A Massachusetts judge extended an abuse prevention order against Pacheco, citing her as a credible threat to the victim’s physical safety, and mandated the surrender of her firearms. The department acknowledged that the incident raised legitimate questions regarding privacy, system access, and the oversight of investigative surveillance tools.

Consequences

The city’s temporary suspension of the Flock camera network prevents law enforcement from utilizing the technology for active investigations. The internal affairs inquiry into Officer Pacheco remains ongoing, and she remains on administrative leave pending the investigation's outcome.

Sources

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