Chief Thody Recommends Termination of Two NBPD Officers Following Internal Investigation Into Usage of Automated License Plate Reader Technology

NEW BEDFORD – Police Chief Jason Thody is recommending the termination of two officers following an internal investigation into the misuse of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.

An internal affairs investigation has concluded that Officer Emily Pacheco and Sgt. James Marinelli misused ALPR technology and violated several NBPD policies and procedures. Both will face disciplinary hearings pursuant to Civil Service law which may result in termination.

On July 31st, Chief Thody ordered a comprehensive audit of the Department’s use of Flock Safety ALPR technology after concerns were raised regarding potential misuse of the system. That same day, the audit identified activity involving a department member, Officer Pacheco, that raised concerns about potential unauthorized use. Officer Pacheco’s access to the Flock system was immediately suspended, and the matter was referred to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) for further investigation.

Officer Pacheco was placed on administrative duty upon returning to work on Aug. 1. She was subsequently placed on paid administrative leave on Aug. 10 following the issuance of an Emergency Restraining Order in a court-related matter.

The PSU investigation examined the circumstances surrounding her ALPR activity, as well as related conduct and the use of other department resources.

The investigation identified sustained violations of multiple department policies and regulations involving ALPR technology and misusing department resources. She was additionally found to have violated NBPD policy regarding inaccurate information being entered into department systems, failure to follow department procedures, and conduct inconsistent with the standards expected of department personnel.

The findings determined that department resources were used for purposes outside legitimate law enforcement responsibilities and that the conduct undermined public confidence in the proper use of law enforcement resources.

The investigation also found that Sgt. Marinelli misused the department’s ALPR system. His activity was identified during the ongoing audit on Aug. 5, and his access to Flock was deactivated that same day. PSU determined that he used the system for personal reasons, including searches that could not be substantiated as legitimate law enforcement inquiries and contained inaccurate or unsupported reasons.

“Members of the New Bedford Police Department are entrusted with authority and access to sensitive information that the general public does not have,” said Chief Thody. “Our officers are held to a higher standard, and when that trust is violated, it is exceptionally disappointing and damaging. While the Flock audit brought these concerns to our attention, the misconduct identified goes far beyond the misuse of Flock technology. The technology did not fail us; these officers failed us, and they must be held accountable.”

Chief Thody is continuing to examine the Department’s policies and guidelines regarding ALPR technology and is seeking resident input on developing appropriate guardrails to curb possible misuse and balance residents’ privacy concerns with public safety benefits.

The department has crafted a set of potential restrictions and safeguards and is inviting residents to share their views by either emailing us at shareyourthoughts@newbedfordpd.com or by filling out our SurveyMonkey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WSVZP5L.