Police officers helped sell Flock cameras in Maine

Detective Sergeant Thomas Cryan of the York Police Department contacted at least six law enforcement agencies in 2025 to promote Flock Safety cameras. The company’s automatic license plate readers use artificial intelligence to identify passing vehicles. Cryan did not respond to multiple interview requests over the past several months.

Emails obtained by The Maine Monitor and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine show Flock sales representatives relied on local officers to build trust with municipal leaders. In 2024, salesperson Dan DelGrosso sought help selling the technology to southern Maine towns. Cryan arranged meetings between DelGrosso and police chiefs in Eliot and Sanford. He also informed the salesman when the Kennebunk chief would return from vacation.

In Freeport, Detective Beck Rice served as a key advocate for the technology. In 2024, Rice told town manager Sophia Wilson that Flock cameras would allow him to identify suspect vehicles quickly. Wilson noted that council members were aware of the benefits but concerned about data privacy. She suggested addressing those concerns before proceeding. Rice did not respond to requests for comment.

Flock sales staff used various tactics to secure contracts. In Ogunquit, DelGrosso proposed splitting two camera contracts so that each cost less than $5,000. This would have bypassed the approval requirement for town manager Matthew Buttrick. Buttrick declined to authorize the contract in July 2024, citing privacy and public trust concerns.

In Wells, Flock staff joined police officers during a presentation to the select board in August 2025. Then-Chief Jo-Ann Putnam told the board that solving crime required embracing future technology. Town manager Michael Pardue defended the system when privacy questions arose. He said the expectation of privacy was low because people were already monitored by cell phones. The board decided to discuss the technology further at a future workshop.

The town manager said it is not unusual to meet with vendors before a public presentation. Putnam, who is now retired, could not be reached for comment. Flock representatives did not respond to requests for comment or written questions. The company has offered free trials and bundle deals to gain footholds in communities without elected official approval.