This breaking news story will be updated.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is pausing the city's use of Flock Safety license plate readers after evidence of misuse of the surveillance technology.
The mayor is expected to provide more details about the decision at a 10 a.m. press conference, a mayoral spokesperson confirmed to The Dispatch.
Watch the press conference here:
The announcement comes after The Dispatch asked the Columbus Division of Police this week about an officer a USA TODAY analysis of Flock data flagged as suspicious. The Columbus officer searched for a single license plate more than 270 times over about 14 months between November 2023 and December 2024, records show. The reasons for the search given were generally vague and included
reasons like "location."
Although Columbus police have had Flock cameras for multiple years, the division conducted its first audit of the system this summer.
The Dispatch is part of the USA TODAY network, which released an investigation last week into possible stalking and other misuse cases of Flock's cameras that led to at least 19 law enforcement officers across the country getting arrested, fired, put on leave or investigated.
The Dispatch asked Columbus police about the officer's searches on Aug. 31 and again on Sept. 2. The division has not responded to those questions as of the morning of Sept. 3.
Columbus' move to pause using Flock cameras comes less than a month after two Reynoldsburg police officers resigned while under investigation for possible misuse of Flock technology.
The Dispatch exclusively reported on Aug. 26 that a majority of Columbus City Council is inclined to discontinue the city's contract with Flock Safety.
On Sept. 1, Ginther insisted in a press conference that he didn't want to take this powerful tool away from Columbus police.
"This technology is saving lives and I'm not going to take tools away from law enforcement who are doing incredible work," Ginther said. "The chief is more than open to continue to put more safeguards in place but we are not going to put the people of Columbus at risk by taking this technology and this tool away from law enforcement."
Ginther and police leaders, including Chief Elaine Bryant, have said Flock Safety ALPR technology is invaluable for solving crimes and finding missing people.
When Ginther and Columbus police announced additional safeguards on the technology on Aug. 28, they said Flock data has been used in 60% of recent homicide arrests.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus to pause Flock camera program after evidence of misuse
