PLYMOUTH - January 6, 2026 - In a meeting that stretched late into the night, the Plymouth Select Board voted unanimously to formally adopt Police Chief Dana Flynn’s existing immigration policy as the board’s official stance for police operations. The decision came as a compromise after Board Member Kevin Canty withdrew his own proposed policy, agreeing that the Chief’s existing protocols—coupled with a new requirement for annual review—sufficiently protect immigrant rights while preserving public safety.
The Full Story
A packed meeting room at Town Hall witnessed a tense but civil debate over how Plymouth’s local government should interact with federal immigration authorities. The agenda was dominated by a proposal from Select Board member Kevin Canty to establish a new town-wide policy restricting employee cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to specific criminal matters.
Canty argued that aggressive ICE tactics had instilled fear in Plymouth’s immigrant communities, causing residents to avoid reporting crimes or accessing town services. “I think the town would benefit from just providing a level of consistent, regular services to all residents so that you don’t create a class of people that can’t reach out for help,” Canty said [01:53:17].
However, Police Chief Dana Flynn pushed back, revealing that his department already operates under a strict policy that prohibits officers from acting as federal immigration agents. Chief Flynn warned that adopting Canty’s separate policy—which used slightly different language—would create operational chaos. “To have two in my opinion operational policies that do not have the same language is problematic all around,” Flynn stated [02:08:40].
Flynn clarified that his officers do not ask about immigration status and do not detain individuals solely on civil ICE detainers, citing the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Lunn decision. He noted that the department only cooperates with federal agencies on criminal investigations involving violent felonies, trafficking, or terrorism.
After over an hour of public comment where residents were sharply divided—some pleading for protection from “indiscriminate ICE raids” and others defending the police and questioning the board’s focus—the board reached a compromise.
Canty agreed to pivot, moving to adopt the Chief’s existing text as the Select Board’s policy for police employees. The motion includes a provision for the policy to be reviewed annually by the board and for the Chief to notify the board of any necessary updates.
“I want a solution. I want people to feel safer... I’m willing to concede the point... essentially protections for the public perception.” — Select Board Member Kevin Canty [04:39:21]
Why It Matters
This vote codifies the Plymouth Police Department’s internal protocols into a public-facing document endorsed by elected officials. For residents, particularly in immigrant communities, this provides a transparent, written guarantee that local police will not function as deportation agents. For the police, it avoids the legal and operational liability of navigating two conflicting sets of rules.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve Administrative Notes 1-4 and 6 (Note 5 regarding new positions was pulled for discussion).
Outcome: Passed Unanimously (5-0)
Vote: [38:00]
Motion: To approve Administrative Note 5 (Adding positions for Fire Chaplain, Paralegal, and Labor Counsel to personnel code).
Outcome: Passed Unanimously (5-0)
Vote: [40:56]
Motion: To adopt the Police Department’s existing immigration policy as the Select Board policy regarding police employees, subject to annual review and notification of changes.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously (4-0) (Vice-Chair Richard Quintal left the meeting prior to this vote)
Vote: [04:48:55]
Motion: To adjourn.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously (4-0)
Vote: [05:11:35]
Public Comment
Public comment was extensive and emotional, lasting over an hour.
Proponents of a new policy (including members of “Plymouth for All” and “Together We Can”) cited fears among immigrant families, with stories of residents afraid to drive or attend school due to ICE presence. One speaker noted, “Trust cannot coexist with fear” [03:07:31].
Opponents argued that the police are already doing an excellent job and that a new policy was unnecessary “virtue signaling.” Several speakers emphasized that the town should not interfere with federal law enforcement or prioritize non-citizens over taxpayers.
What’s Next
Due to the late hour, the board tabled a critical discussion on the FY27 Budget. A special meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, January 9, at 4:00 PM to address the budget and remaining administrative notes [04:59:03].
Source Video: Plymouth Meetings: Local Seen Streaming Channel