The City of Reynoldsburg became the latest central Ohio community to suspend its use of Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras on Wednesday.
Reynoldsburg Mayor Joe Begeny said in a video on Facebook that the city had stopped using its cameras as of noon. He expected all of the city's cameras to be covered with bags by Friday at the latest.
"This is not a decision that I have taken lightly. Balancing the safety, benefits and emerging technology with the public's trust and concerns over real and potential misuse is never easy. However, I believe it is now time for us to move on," Begeny said.
Police use the expansive camera network to track stolen vehicles and solve other crimes, but opponents of the technology have raised concerns about privacy. Recently, allegations of police misuse have surfaced, including in Reynoldsburg.
Two former Reynoldsburg police officers are accused of making around 100 personal searches on the city's cameras between December 2025 and June 2026.
Begeny acknowledged those "cases of misuse" and said he has refrained from commenting due to an ongoing investigation.
Columbus suspended its Flock camera program last week, after alleged misuse by one of its officers.
The city of Lebanon, about 30 miles northeast of Cincinnati, also shut down its Flock cameras after a vote by its city council Tuesday night. Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton has called for a possible ban on Flock cameras in the state.
Columbus Fraternal Order of Police President Brian Steel said in a statement Wednesday that it is "unfortunate" that Reynoldsburg ended its Flock camera program. Steel said the cameras have been valuable in fighting violent crime, finding stolen vehicles and locating missing children.
"These decisions should be based on facts and public safety, not manufactured outrage or political pressure," Steel wrote. "Too often, municipalities make these choices despite the advice of law enforcement professionals, including the Fraternal Order of Police."
Begeny said the decision to remove the cameras is not a reflection on Reynoldsburg Police.
"I know how much the community values our dedicated officers and I am confident in their continued ability to protect our city every day," Begeny said.
He said the city will work with Flock to have the cameras removed.
Reynoldsburg citizens can ask Begeny and other elected officials questions about the end of the city's Flock camera program during a town hall on Oct. 21 at the Reynoldsburg Senior Center.
