Four Ohio law-enforcement groups are calling for tighter oversight of Flock license plate cameras while supporting their continued use by police.
The proposal follows Governor-elect Amy Acton’s campaign pledge to support a statewide ban, as first reported by WLWT. The station reported that the groups released their statement Friday, Nov. 6.
The debate affects West Chester Township, whose Flock transparency portal lists 41 cameras as of Nov. 9. The vendor-operated page publishes the department’s usage figures and policies.
What the groups propose
The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio’s statement also represents the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association.
The groups call for stronger penalties for officers who misuse camera data, mandatory reviews of agency access and security requirements for technology companies. They acknowledge residents’ concerns about misuse while describing the cameras as useful investigative tools.
They want audits to examine who searches camera information, how often and for what reason. The statement also calls for agencies to report arrests linked to camera data so the public can assess its usefulness.
For vendors, the groups seek safeguards covering access controls, breach notification, retention and independent security audits. These are proposals from the groups.
West Chester’s published rules
West Chester police say they use the cameras in criminal investigations and to locate missing people. The department says images are available only to authorized users for law-enforcement purposes.
The township normally retains images for 30 days, with exceptions for ongoing criminal investigations or legal cases. It says the cameras detect license plates and vehicle models without facial recognition or identifying occupants’ race or gender.
The transparency portal prohibits personal use, immigration enforcement, traffic enforcement, harassment and searches based solely on a protected characteristic. It says each system access requires a valid reason and that access records are stored indefinitely.
The portal also requires officers to verify alerts about flagged vehicles before acting. Readers can download a public search audit covering the preceding 30 days through the portal.
Residents with questions or concerns can use the public feedback area on the township police website.
