Reynoldsburg is the latest city to end its use of Flock license-plate reading cameras amid national pushback against the AI-driven surveillance network and investigations into police misuse.
Mayor Joe Begeny announced the immediate end to its Flock use during a Facebook livestream Sept. 9, about a week after Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the Columbus Division of Police would pause use of Flock cameras amid an investigation into misuse.
Dozens of other cities around the country have ended their use of Flock license plate reading cameras.
Begeny said he did not make this decision lightly and it should not reflect on Reynoldsburg police leaders.
"After careful consideration, the city of Reynoldsburg will discontinue its use of the Flock camera
system effective immediately," Begeny said. "This is not a decision that I have taken lightly, balancing the safety benefits of emerging technology with the public trust and concerns over real and potential misuse is never easy, However, I believe it is now time for us to move on."
Two police officers in Reynoldsburg resigned in July amid investigations into their misuse of the city’s Flock network for personal use. Begeny said during the livestream he cannot comment on the ongoing investigation.
Begeny said Reynoldsburg's cameras will be bagged, similar to how they have been bagged in Columbus, until the cameras can be removed. Flock Safety owns the cameras and municipalities contract for them.
Former officer Mark Nichols searched the name of a current or former female partner 46 times since 2025 while on light duty or administrative leave. Another investigation found former officer Alissa Birkhimer searched a different license plate 53 times this year, according to records obtained by The Dispatch.
Sandra Coates, an activist with Deflock Reynoldsburg, has been lobbying the mayor and city council for months to get rid of Flock cameras.
"I am excited that this is a step in the right direction but I don't feel like the work is done, because we want to make sure Flock is not replaced with another vendor and we want legislation in place to give constituents more of a say in police surveillance methods being used in our community," Coates said.
Reynoldsburg was one of the first cities in the Columbus area to contract with Flock, Begeny previously shared with The Dispatch. The city started using Flock cameras in late 2021.
Begeny and Police Chief Curtis Baker have defended Flock in the past. At a July 13 city council meeting, Begeny said that the cameras contributed to a decrease in motor vehicle thefts and Baker said that the technology helped solve multiple crimes.
“Without this technology, most of these cases would not be solved and they would not be ended in such an efficient manner,” said Reynoldsburg Police Chief Curtis Baker.
Dispatch reporter Bailey Gallion contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Reynoldsburg dropping Flock cameras amid investigations into misuse
