Calouro backs Bristol's Flock camera for finding missing people
Nathan CalouroBristol Town Council chairman (I) running for reelection
Bristol Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro said the Flock camera makes sense if it helps police find and bring back abducted family members, and said Bristol adopted an ordinance and police policy for it.
“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.”
Original text
Where this statement fits
Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Networked automated license-plate readers record passing vehicles and let agencies search or share travel records across locations. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to prohibit these networks, keep them with legal limits, or defend their use for investigations. This tracker records attributable positions on that choice, including proposals that would affect only public funding or data access.
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Original text
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
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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- Flock Safety
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The Dispute Index. "Calouro backs Bristol's Flock camera for finding missing people". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3164-bristol-town-council-chairman-nathan-calouro-said-the