Columbus City Council signaled it likely won't be moving as swiftly as other cities, like Dayton, to suspend the use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras and license plate readers.
Columbus City Council member Emmanuel Remy said at Monday's meeting that he wants to review the city's use of Flock license plate readers as concerns mount over whether the Trump administration uses the technology for immigration enforcement. Columbus police own only 10% of the hundreds of Flock cameras across the city.
Before the council considered renewing a $661,500 contract for gunshot detectors through SoundThinking Inc., Remy said he wants to audit the city's data accrued by using the other surveillance technology through Flock.
The city's contract with Flock Safety totals $228,000 and has been active since 2024.
Remy said he wants to hold a public hearing and consider making some policies to limit the camera's usage into law.
Others on the council and in the community say that doesn't go far enough, especially after Dayton suspended using the cameras. Cleveland is also considering similar action after the two cities reported data was being used for immigration enforcement action.
Remy threatened further action if the audit finds federal law enforcement is abusing Columbus' data.
"If our Flock systems are being used inappropriately by federal enforcement or any other agencies to enforce immigration law, or to infringe on civil liberties, then that is entirely unacceptable and I will bring legislation to curb their use," Remy said.
These cameras capture information of all passing vehicles, including the make, model and color. It also notes damage or alterations to cars.
These cameras, called automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, then send real-time alerts when license plate numbers match a reported stolen vehicle or a car being sought by law enforcement.
Columbus Division of Police Deputy Chief Tim Myers told council that police currently operate 48 Flock cameras, but another 28 cameras are in the process of being permitted or installed. But, Myers said there are nearly 600 more of the cameras around the region, which law enforcement agencies like Columbus can get access to from private owners or other police departments.
Myers called the use of the cameras "striking a balance" using this technology because the city gets a lot of investigative value to help solve some very serious crimes with the use of automatic license plate readers.
"At the same time we want to strike a balance and make sure that our sensors that are deployed and the data that comes from them is not used for purposes that are not supported by the city," Myers said.
Myers said Flock does give local police the option to block ICE and other federal agencies from using its data filters through its software. He said the filters can prevent agencies from obtaining the data to assist with immigration enforcement or enforcement of reproductive health laws.
Myers said the city is working with the company to also limit data sharing in this way with other local police departments who contract with ICE through what are known as 286(g) agreements. He said the technology helps solve crimes, but these are issues CPD is concerned about.
Council member Melissa Green questioned Myers about whether agencies like ICE can mislead Flock Safety when selecting why it wants to use Columbus' data.
"They don't have to write immigration enforcement, they could just write wanted person, and then that would bypass those filters," Green said.
Myers said that is entirely possible, but it would be a violation of Flock's terms of service and possibly federal laws.
"From our perspective as another participating user, it would probably be difficult to assess that," Myers said.
Green said given this information and other points made by council members, the city can't wait for a long-term investigation, like Remy wants.
"I just feel very strongly that we cannot afford to wait for a thorough investigation. You know, every day that we are waiting is another day that somebody could be taken away from their family unjustly," Green said.
Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla also expressed concerns about Flock, questioning how the technology protects residents.
"I'm still not comfortable that the return on investment that we're making is not putting people in danger," Barroso de Padilla said.
