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Cleveland Administration Seeks to Replace Flock License Plate Readers with Axon Technology

Cleveland Administration Seeks to Replace Flock License Plate Readers with Axon Technology

Mayor Justin Bibb's administration in Cleveland is requesting City Council approval for a new contract with Axon Enterprises to provide license plate readers, replacing the current system from Flock Safety. Axon, formerly TASER International, already supplies body cameras and the Fusus software platform to Cleveland police, which integrates data from various surveillance systems. The proposed contract is for one year with renewal options, and the cost has not yet been disclosed. A city spokesperson stated that Axon's system offers tools and accountability measures to protect civil liberties while supporting public safety. This move comes after City Council approved a six-month extension with Flock Safety, contingent on the city soliciting proposals from other companies, following a refusal by City Council Member Mike Polensek to bypass council for renewal. The Cleveland Community Police Commission is also reviewing the policy governing police use of license plate readers, with an online survey open until N...

Quincy Officials Debate Future of Automatic License Plate Readers Amid Privacy Concerns

Quincy Officials Debate Future of Automatic License Plate Readers Amid Privacy Concerns

Officials in Quincy, Massachusetts, are currently debating new regulations for automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. This discussion follows months of public debate regarding privacy and public safety concerns surrounding the city's previous system, which utilized Flock Safety cameras. The city had one of the highest concentrations of these cameras in Massachusetts, but they have since been deactivated. Mayor Thomas Koch indicated that Quincy plans to transition to a different system, which he stated would be entirely internal, limiting data access solely to the Quincy police for investigative purposes. Despite this proposed change, opposition to the technology persists among some residents. Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy has defended the use of ALPRs, asserting their effectiveness in accelerating investigations by providing leads in minutes rather than days. He also refuted claims that the technology tracks individuals or employs facial recognition, stating he would oppose it if those claims we...

EFF and ACLU File Amicus Brief Urging Warrant Requirement for ALPR Searches in Sixth Circuit

EFF and ACLU File Amicus Brief Urging Warrant Requirement for ALPR Searches in Sixth Circuit

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have filed an amicus brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of *United States v. Sturdivant*. The brief argues that law enforcement's use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) data to track individuals constitutes a 'search' under the Fourth Amendment, thereby requiring a warrant. The case involves police in Cleveland, Ohio, who used ALPR databases (Flock and ELSAG) to track a suspect's vehicle near robbery sites without a warrant, leading to an arrest. The district court previously ruled that the defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in his license plate number because it is publicly observable. However, the EFF and ACLU contend that ALPR systems create a 'virtual time machine' of past movements, far exceeding casual public observation and amounting to indiscriminate mass surveillance. They cite a recent federal district court ruling that recognized ALPRs as a form of mass surveillance...

Columbia Labor Union Initiates Petition to Restrict City's Use of Flock Safety Cameras

Columbia Labor Union Initiates Petition to Restrict City's Use of Flock Safety Cameras

Members of Laborers' Local 955 in Columbia, Missouri, have launched an initiative petition to impose new restrictions on the city's use of Flock Safety cameras. This effort began as residents protested outside City Hall against the surveillance technology. The petition aims to amend the Columbia Code of Ordinances by adding two new sections. One section broadly addresses data privacy and responsible data stewardship, while the other specifically targets automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). The proposed ordinance would mandate that the city collect only personal information deemed 'reasonably necessary for legitimate government purposes' and limit access to authorized personnel. It also seeks to prevent the use of personal data for monitoring constitutional rights, creating non-governmental profiles, or making decisions based solely on unverified automated predictions. These changes would apply to data gathered from various technologies, including surveillance cameras, ALPRs, body-worn cameras, and dron...

Cleveland Community Police Commission Opens Applications for Violence Prevention Grants, Addresses Backlog

Cleveland Community Police Commission Opens Applications for Violence Prevention Grants, Addresses Backlog

The Cleveland Community Police Commission has opened a new application period for grants aimed at community groups involved in violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation. This initiative is funded by a city charter mandate, allocating 0.5% of the Cleveland Division of Police's budget to these grants, which amounted to nearly $1.4 million this year. The commission has been working to resolve a significant backlog of unpaid awards dating back to 2023. Executive Director Shalenah Williams, who was hired in January, and her team have made progress, reporting that 80% of 2023 awards and over 70% of 2024 awards have been paid out. The new application period closes on November 30, with the commission expecting to finalize the process by March. Eligible groups must be Cleveland-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or have a fiscal agent. Grants are available in two categories: up to 15 grants for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million, a history of neighborhood service, and limited extern...

Senator Cory Booker Joins Bipartisan Push for Federal Regulation of License Plate Cameras

Senator Cory Booker Joins Bipartisan Push for Federal Regulation of License Plate Cameras

Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) is actively participating in a bipartisan effort in Congress to establish federal regulations for automated license plate readers (ALPRs). This initiative stems from growing concerns across the political spectrum regarding the widespread use of this technology by law enforcement and its potential for mass surveillance. Lawmakers from both parties, including Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) and Representative Greg Steube (R-Florida), have voiced concerns about the lack of national oversight for ALPR systems, particularly those operated by companies like Flock Safety, which maintains a vast network of over 120,000 cameras across 49 states. The bipartisan consensus highlights a shared belief that federal action is necessary to address privacy implications and potential abuses of this technology. Several legislative proposals are pending or expected on Capitol Hill, aiming to either ban or limit mass surveillance technologies, with some advocating for warrant requirements to ...

Charge want to be a pipeline for the Cavs: ‘We want the development to be in-house’

Charge want to be a pipeline for the Cavs: ‘We want the development to be in-house’

“We want to be the group that relies on each other, that is about everybody else’s success."

Aliya Rahman Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government for Assault and False Imprisonment by ICE Agents

Aliya Rahman Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government for Assault and False Imprisonment by ICE Agents

Aliya Rahman, a disabled Minneapolis resident, has filed an assault and false imprisonment lawsuit against the federal government. This action follows her detention by federal immigration agents last January, during which she alleges agents smashed her car windows, pulled her out, ignored her U.S. citizenship claims, taunted her disability, and withheld medical care. Rahman testified before Congress in February about these events. She previously filed a tort claim against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in April, seeking personal injury damages, and a complaint with DHS's internal Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in June. Both previous attempts for accountability went unanswered. Her lawyer, Jessica Gingold of the MacArthur Justice Center, stated that the federal government has "chosen to hide" by not responding to their inquiries. The lawsuit aims to unmask the names of the officers involved, whose images are attached as an exhibit.

Week 9 has analyst suggesting Shedeur Sanders should start

Week 9 has analyst suggesting Shedeur Sanders should start

Should Sanders remain the starter in Cleveland? One analyst thinks so.

Cleveland City Council Considers Key Appointments and Public Safety Measures

Cleveland City Council Considers Key Appointments and Public Safety Measures

The Cleveland City Council is addressing several critical items, including appointments to the Community Police Commission and various emergency ordinances. Mayor Justin Bibb has submitted appointments and re-appointments for the Community Police Commission. The council is also reviewing a Second Quarter 2026 Report for the Neighborhood Safety Fund from the Cleveland Foundation, pursuant to Ordinance No. 486-2023. Additionally, the agenda includes communications from Larry Jones II, Commissioner of Information Technology & Services, regarding the utilization of a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with Law and Order Technology LLC for equipment. Emergency ordinances under consideration cover a range of issues, such as amending contracts for social support services, expanding leasehold territories, applying for grants for youth diversion programs and business development, and authorizing agreements for public safety initiatives like automated license plate reader systems, Drone First Responder Systems, and Gu...

Alleged Stalker Arrested at LeBron James' Brentwood Residence by LAPD

Alleged Stalker Arrested at LeBron James' Brentwood Residence by LAPD

Alleged Stalker Arrested at LeBron James' Brentwood Residence by LAPD

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves Design for 6,200-Seat Riverfront Amphitheater

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves Design for 6,200-Seat Riverfront Amphitheater

Cleveland Planning Commission Approves Design for 6,200-Seat Riverfront Amphitheater