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New Bedford suspends plate-reader program after two officers fired for personal searches
Two New Bedford officers were terminated after internal investigations found they used Flock license-plate cameras for personal reasons. The city has shut down the system while it audits past use, considers safeguards and seeks public feedback.
New Bedford has fired two police officers after internal investigations found they misused the department’s Flock license-plate reader system, and the cameras remain shut off as city officials review whether and how the technology could be used again.
Officer Emily Pacheco’s investigation found she violated department rules, entered inaccurate information and disregarded required procedures. She had been accused of using the system to track an ex-girlfriend who sought a protective order.
Sgt. James Marinelli was also fired. Investigators found that he used the system for personal searches, including to track a romantic partner and that person’s ex.
Police Chief Jason Thody suspended use of the license-plate readers on Aug. 11, after the allegations surfaced. The terminations, announced Thursday by Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office, complete the first phase of a 2026 audit of the department’s use of Flock technology.
A separate audit is examining the period from Dec. 20, 2024, when the department began using the system, through Dec. 31, 2025. City officials say its findings will be made public. The review will also include public feedback, while the city develops regulations for any future use.
Thody said the investigations found repeated misuse for personal reasons and violations of department policy. He said the firings reflect the seriousness of the conduct and the department’s commitment to accountability, adding that officials are reviewing restrictions and oversight for any future use of the technology.
Automated license-plate readers capture vehicle plates and can help police investigate crimes, but their use has raised concerns about surveillance, privacy, misuse and accuracy. The New Bedford review will help determine what safeguards residents can expect if the city considers bringing the system back.