Greetings Councilors:
Now that the electorate is aware of the Flock Safety camera fiasco; the Council is backpedaling to save face with a public process. Please: don’t insult us by spinning the words.
Let’s not forget: the Council approved the Flock Safety equipment purchase through the budget process.The horsie was out of the barn on 06/10/25, when the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget was unanimously approved.
Manager, Proakis signed the Flock contract on 09/11/25. Followed by a purchase order on 09/12/25. Full cycle of the authorization and purchase process.
During the Nov. 25th information update to Council, by Manager, Proakis; none of the elected representatives uttered a word!!! No questions; no answers.
A second update to Council was given by Manager, Proakis on 12/09/25. Council President, Mark Sideris, stated as follows:
- “…written policy for referral to Committee for public discussion…”
I bring to light the Budget Hearings. On 05/20/25, the Committee of the Whole met to hear from the Public Safety Departments. Manager, Proakis referenced the purchase of the Flock cameras. None of the Councilors offered comments! Watch the proceedings for yourselves.
Committee of the Whole – May 20, 2025 https://share.google/nv6gNT6zvZVjXrAzi
“Fiscal Year 2026 Budget – Page 106
Additional Budget Requests
• Funds $24,000 request for Flock Camera System for the installation of eight cameras throughout Watertown to enhance the department’s ability to successfully conclude investigations.”
Also, pages two and thirteen of the Police Dept. Budget Documentation (click here).
I offer as follows:
DATE SUBMITTED: December 5, 2024
0121052-520240 Flock Camera System $24,000/annually
“The Department wishes to engage in a two-year contract with Flock Safety at an expense of $24,000 annually to install eight cameras throughout the City of Watertown. The cameras are designed for placement at keys areas to support safety and investigative functions. Engagement with this program will allow investigators from our Department to access similar camera systems installed in other jurisdictions, region-wide. This access will enhance collaboration, information sharing and our Department’s ability to successfully conclude investigations”
Irrelevant of the good merits, associated with the cameras for public safety needs: where was the analysis by Council to safeguard all aspects of day-to-day life of Watertown residents, and those beyond? Inclusive of cybersecurity concerns; as sent to the FTC by two Midwest Legislators. https://share.google/h22SRDdgrESxSuvfj
Where was the oversight? Where was the Council’s commitment to the electorate? By virtue of a rubber stamp; the Administration seems to own the Council.
Best,
Angie
Angeline Maria B. Kounelis
Retired Watertown District A, East End, City Councilor
Angie, thank you for finding the initial documents that show when/where this process started.
And just so everyone is clear what happens here. Watertown PD puts up the 8 cameras in Watertown and now they not only have access to those 8 cameras, they have access to all the Flock camera’s in the region. This also means that all the police departments in the region have access to Watertown’s cameras.
It is completely enraging that at no point in the process anyone on the Council even ask the basic question “Where are each of these 8 cameras going to be put”
And another question might be, “How would this make the residents of Watertown safer while guarding constitutional rights, especially privacy?”
I submit that we would do much more for public safety, and less harm, by adding some serious traffic enforcement. Reckless driving is one of our gravest public safety hazards.
If you want to find something even more infuriating, go to page 15 of the document Angie linked to: https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=117519&repo=r-5ece5628
You will see a $48,000 request for 6 motorola radios , for the cadet safety and training program. In what universe does it cost $6,000 per radio for a cadet ? Is anyone on the Council actually reading any of the documents ? Is George asking the WPD any questions on how they arrived at any of these numbers ?
And another one on page 3. Can someone confirm if this is a typo. In the table, Kevin Rooney is listed with a full compensation of $114,000. This is the same Kevin Rooney that was charged with rape in 2021 (and later found not guilty) but was suspended by the POST commission in January of 2023.
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/15-police-officers-suspended-under-new-mass-police-reform-law/2935027/
How is someone suspended , still getting listed on the compensation sheet a full year later at over $100k in compensation. Is Watertown still paying this guy ?
I am also concerned about the city working with Flock as the City of Cambridge recently terminated their contract with Flock because Flock installed 2 additional traffic cameras and didn’t inform the City of Cambridge that they had done this!!! God knows who Flock was sharing the information from the 2 secretly installed cameras with, ICE perhaps? I think the City of Watertown should reconsider doing business with such a disreputable company. Diane Crowley
OMG please tell me what constitutional rights are in jeapoerdy by Flock Safety Cameras. I heard this same nonscense when the MBTA installed cameras on busses. Take my picture all day if i am in the public, but it stopped the exposers, pickpockets, harassment etc. On busses.
Support our law enforcement. Stolen cars, missing children, kidnapping, and worse in our violent society.
The recent murders at Brown University all they have is the camera to turn to to hunt this madman.
Constitutional rights just look at our supreme court ignoring Stare Decisis and a shadow docket that gives no explanation that is our constitutional rights out the window.
Let’s stay safe, what do we hide, give our law enforcement all the tools they need in Watertown.
That the Council is owned by the Adminstration is a STRETCH conclusion. I am very upset by this decision to purchase these cameras since I follow privacy issues regularly. One viewing of Das Leben den Andern (the life of others) was enough to get me to be vigilant against privacy invasion. I voted against the Right to Repair ballot question because there are credible data security risks there.
Let’s correctly assign the begining of the problem with the WPD since they requested the Flock cameras. It would be more correct to say that the Council and Adminstration in many ways are owned by the Police Dept and Fire Dept. Why do I say this, having never experienced a direct problem with either but only solid great service? Why do I say this when I questioned the need for the FBI in 2013 knowing that any true Watertownian including the police would have known that fugitive would have been found in a shed or boat? Because any time these departments are criticized, the person criticizing gets crucified. We should be able to criticize their methods and ideas because they are public servants and more importantly human. Humans make mistakes. So rather thant take these departments’ word at face value, we need to scruntize theit ideas just like we do with the schools, health department and other muncipal departments. Good WPD methods and ideas – the dog, the Autism kit, the ICE response, these cameras bad.
If City Manager Psorakis had balked at the idea of the Flock Cameras instantrnously, the headline would have been “City Manager wont keep the public safe by igoring the safety experts.” As for Public Safety, why is it that we only get maybe 2 to 3 Public Safety Committee meetings a year? This is classic textbook definition of lack of transparency especially when the majority of committees have 10 to 12 meetings per year even if it is just to accept the minutes. Maybe the information would have been brought to the forefront of people’s minds, council inclded, if there was a monthly Public Safety meeting. If the horse is out of the barn, it is because few knew there was a barned horse.
The right conclusion here is that the City Coucil Committees, Adminstration and Department Commitees need to have more public meetings, regardless of job function, even if some of them are joint meetings. Still a bad idea but having the Flock Camera request come to light sooner would have been better for all involved.
Excuse the bad typos, using the phone here.
Oversight is needed and transparency as to who has access to data. Also the locations of the cameras. It is always about the data and privacy. I also agree with the above commenter: rather see the $$ go towards better intersections(safer) and traffic control(especially in square).
While the idea of public safety is something everyone can support, these cameras, accessible by all kinds of people in power, can be used target people that the people in power don’t like.
It makes me feel like we are heading into a society more like Russia, China or North Korea. Do you really want an America where you are safe only if you know the right people?