PROVIDENCE – The web pages, known as "Flock Transparency Portals," offer basic metrics on the use of license plate-reading camera devices by local police.
But the information is far from extensive. It seems like it isn't always uniform between departments, and the meaning of certain terms on the site isn't always self-evident.
Still, it's clear that the controversial devices, supplied by Flock Safety, are quite busy.
For example, as of Sept. 1, the network in Providence had generated 675,905 "unique plate reads" over the last 30 days, according to the Providence Police Department's transparency portal.
On the portal for neighboring Cranston, it says the Flock network had generated 564,660 "unique plate reads" over the last 30 days.
Cranston's police chief, Col. Michael Winquist, who was the first police leader to introduce the Flock devices in Rhode Island in 2021, said that a "unique plate read," in his interpretation, is the number of times a new plate is detected during a reporting period.
Cranston's page also says police had engaged in 864 "search sessions" within the system during that period.
Flock systems have faced heavy scrutiny around the country and in some Rhode Island cities and towns lately.
They collect certain vehicle identity information and temporarily save it for police use in the near future if necessary.
The system also alerts police when a device has identified a wanted vehicle, such as a stolen car or an SUV associated with a missing person or a fugitive.
Cranston's page shows 6,952 such "Hotlist Hits" over the last 30 days, while Warwick's shows 1,186 and Woonsocket's shows 1,919.
Winquist said many of those Cranston alerts did not generate an immediate law enforcement response.
For example, he said, a Massachusetts plate with the same number as the tag for a Rhode Island-registered vehicle that's actually of interest can set off an alert.
Such alerts are vetted, Winquist said.
The portals also provide information on whom the departments share their data with.
Woonsocket's page says 421 police agencies have access to the department's Flock data, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, to York, Maine, as of Sept. 1.
Cranston's page names other Rhode Island agencies it is sharing data with, based on memorandums of understanding.
However, Winquist acknowledged that until a change that he instituted recently, Cranston had been sharing data with all other police agencies also participating in Flock's nationwide lookup feature.
Winquist said he decided to stop Cranston's participation in that level of information-sharing as he reevaluates the way the system is operating.
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Winquist was among police officials who discussed the Flock network during a meeting with Gov. Dan McKee.
The police leaders at the meeting agreed to get behind an effort to develop a statewide policy on the use of the license plate-reading camera devices, according to the president of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, Col. Michael E. Correia, who is Barrington's police chief and also a supporter of the technology.
One place where cameras haven't been used is Glocester, where town officials stopped the participation of police.
Glocester's page is no longer posted.
Town officials in South Kingstown have also stopped the use of Flock, voting at a meeting in July.
South Kingstown's online page shows that cameras have made "0" plate reads over the last 30 days.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Flock portal says RI police read hundreds of thousands of plates | Exclusive