Calouro backs Bristol's Flock camera for finding missing people

Bristol Town Council chairman (I) running for reelection

“Flock Camera is a hot issue. As I said at one of the meetings, if my family was abducted and this allows the police department to find them and bring them back, then it makes sense to me. We are the only community that I’m aware of, and I’m happy to be educated otherwise, that took efforts to put in an ordinance, that took efforts to put in a policy with the police department. I’m not aware of another community that did that. I’d also like to be clear and say that I would fully support state legislation on this, but that hasn’t come to us yet. Bristol has never been in a place to wait for somebody else to decide to ensure the people of Bristol are safe, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)The 2026 Bristol Town Council candidate forumTranscript of the Bristol Town Council candidate forum, answers on Flock cameras and on first priorities

Source and context

Original text

The 2026 Bristol Town Council candidate forum (opens in a new tab)Transcript of the Bristol Town Council candidate forum, answers on Flock cameras and on first priorities

About this source

Steve Ahlquist published a transcript, edited for clarity, and video of the Bristol Town Council candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the East Bay Media Group at the Bristol State House.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

At a Bristol Town Council candidate forum on Sept. 24, 2026, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the East Bay Media Group, candidates answered questions about the council's approval of one Rhode Island State Police Flock camera. Remarks are as transcribed, and edited for clarity, by Steve Ahlquist. Calouro began his answer by describing his trust in the Bristol police department and chief.

After the quotation

Councilor Anthony Teixeira then said he voted in favor of the camera and would do so again.

How this statement is classified

Defended or excused

Case context: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Calouro supports the camera because it could help police find abducted family members and points to the ordinance and police policy Bristol adopted. He supports state legislation but sets no condition on the current camera, so Defended or excused fits.

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People and groups discussed
Flock Safety
A close view of a green Flock Safety automated license-plate reader mounted beside a street.
Credit: Bruxton

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