Haverhill is moving to cancel its contract with Flock Safety, which has recently become controversial, but still plans to roll out safety measures to regulate whatever system might replace it. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett’s office said Thursday the city asked the company, which has supplied automatic license plate readers to the city since 2023, to remove the cameras. While the mayor’s office said an internal review of how the cameras are used shows no misuse, “the city found that Flock’s technology itself does not provide enough necessary safeguards to protect residents’ privacy.”
“To balance public safety needs with the privacy rights of Haverhill residents, the city will continue conducting a thorough review of all law enforcement tools and guardrails in partnership with the Haverhill City Council,” a statement said. “Stronger protections against mass surveillance” is one of the reasons the Haverhill Chapter of the Merrimack Valley Project plans to demand removal of the cameras.
Haverhill High School Hillies football plays Leominster High School to open the playoffs on the road Friday night. The Hillies, ranked number 10 in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I, are playing in the state tournament for the first time in 10 seasons. Haverhill’s record matches that of Leominster, ranked seventh, at 5-3.
West Newbury Fire Department, with the assistance of mutual aid partners, extinguished a two-alarm fire in a single-family home Thursday afternoon on Main Street. Fire Chief Michael Dwyer said West Newbury Public Safety Dispatch received a 911 call at about 1:57 p.m., reporting a house fire at 598 Main St. Upon arrival, West Newbury Police reported heavy smoke showing from the rear of the building.
Members of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will soon gather for the eighth Annual Business After Hours Dodgeball Tournament. What has become tradition—and legend—Chamber members and guests in teams of at least six members compete for bragging rights in the competition benefitting the Haverhill YMCA. The tournament takes place Wednesday, Dec.
