Overview:
Surveillance cameras have been installed at various town parks and facilities in Athol following reports of vandalism and break-ins. The $50,000 project, approved during the 2022 Annual Town Meeting, includes Lake Park and Silver Lake Park, among other locations. While some residents expressed privacy concerns regarding license plate scanning, Police Chief Jarret Mousseau clarified that the standard video surveillance cameras do not utilize facial recognition or Flock Safety technology.
ATHOL – Following repeated reports of vandalism and break-ins, surveillance cameras have been installed at town parks and department offices.
According to Public Works Director Paul Raskevitz, cameras have been installed at Lake Park, Silver Lake Park, Fish Park, and the town’s water treatment facilities, where there have been reports of recent break-ins. Cameras will also be going up at the downtown Veterans Park and Lake Ellis beach sometime within the next couple of weeks.
The cameras were paid for through an article passed at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting, which allowed the spending of $50,000 for the devices. Officials worked with Suzor IT of Orange, the town’s technology consultants, to design details of the system and procure the cameras.
“As a result of concerns over certain activity and vandalism in public spaces, the Selectboard placed an article to fund security cameras on public property on the June 13, 2022 Annual Town Meeting warrant. Voters approved Article 24…for ‘the purchase, installation and related costs for security cameras’ at various town-owned properties,” said Town Manager Shaun Suhoski. “The project experienced some equipment and supply-chain delays but is in the midst of implementation as approved by the Selectboard and town meeting voters.”
The town manager added that data from the cameras is “retained in the cloud for 30 days and then automatically deleted. Only selected police and public works management officials can request access to the data if needed in response to a specific incident. These devices do not scan license plates or employ any facial recognition software.”
The new cameras have prompted concerns from residents that they are Flock cameras. Those devices, built by Flock Safety, read and record license plate numbers, along with a vehicle’s make, color and other unique features. Some social media comments have expressed concern that information from these cameras may be provided to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a statement, Police Chief Jarret Mousseau assured residents that the cameras were installed to protect the public safety.
“These cameras are not ‘Flock’ camera systems,” stated the chief. “A Flock camera is a specialized, networked, fixed security camera system made by Flock Safety that is designed primarily for license-plate and vehicle recognition, not general video surveillance.”
Referring to the devices as “standard video surveillance cameras,” Mousseau explained that they are not being used to read license plates, nor do they use any facial recognition technology.
“Their sole purpose is to help protect our children, deter vandalism and damage to town property (and) assist law enforcement if a crime is committed within the cameras’ field of view,” Mousseau stated, noting that town-owned parks and other properties have been targets of repeated vandalism.
“These cameras are one of several steps the town is taking to protect public spaces and ensure they remain safe and welcoming for all residents and visitors,” stated the chief.