Flock Safety license plate reader cameras remain active in Evendale, Sharonville, Springdale and Woodlawn even as neighboring communities dismantle theirs.

Monroe City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 22, to shut down its Flock system, making the Butler County city the latest in a wave of tri-state communities abandoning the technology, WCPO reported. The vote came after residents lined up at the podium to argue both sides. Veterans, parents and neighbors spoke for and against the cameras.

None of the four corridor police departments have announced whether they are reconsidering their own Flock programs.

Close to home

Evendale approved its Flock installation in early 2023, budgeting about $2,500 per camera per year for roughly 15 units, according to village committee minutes. A November 2022 village report noted that Sharonville and Springdale had already begun installing the systems at that time.

Hamilton County's 75-camera network costs roughly $225,000 a year, with townships and villages reimbursing the sheriff's office for cameras in their areas, according to WLWT.

Monroe's debate

Deborah Ridemore, a Monroe resident and military veteran, told the council she was fed up with what she called a digital dragnet. "I spent two decades serving to defend the constitutional rights of our citizens… Tonight, I'm here because I'm really sick and tired of seeing those protections eroded," she said.

Monroe resident William Layman disagreed, telling the council he believed removing the cameras would significantly hurt public safety.

Critics pointed out the cameras capture more than license plates. One resident identified only as Austin D. told the council the devices can identify a vehicle's color, dents and bumper stickers. Flock Safety's Trevor Chandler, speaking in a public affairs capacity, pointed to other cities that returned to the program after adding safeguards.

Regional momentum

Monroe's vote follows a string of similar actions. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey paused all 75 of the county's Flock cameras on Sept. 3, citing data-sharing concerns. "It's serious enough that we are pausing until we have stronger guardrails in place," McGuffey said at a Sept. 3 press conference. She said no deputies had misused the system.

Fort Thomas and Newport in Kentucky discontinued their cameras. Lebanon and Covington also acted on Sept. 8; Covington voted unanimously to remove its readers from a police technology contract, according to WCPO. Columbus paused its program to investigate alleged officer misuse.

State action pending

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said in a Sept. 16 statement that Flock cameras are among the most valuable tools for law enforcement when used properly, but that misuse should not be tolerated, WLWT reported.

At the Statehouse, lawmakers have introduced four competing bills to regulate the technology, cleveland.com reported. House Bill 1009, the Stop Flock Abuse Act, would make it a fifth-degree felony for officers who misuse surveillance data. House Bill 1010 would require agencies to shut down their networks entirely. None of the proposals appeared likely to pass before Election Day.

Monroe's council did not announce a timeline for removing its cameras. Residents who want to report concerns about surveillance technology can contact their local police department or village council.