Thousands of immigration-related searches were run through Dayton’s automatic license plate reader system — including thousands by federal Border Patrol and hundreds by a sheriff’s office in Georgia — according to newly obtained records released after the city shut the cameras down over what officials called “egregious” policy violations.
The records detail how agencies nationwide accessed data collected by Dayton’s Flock Safety cameras before the city pulled the plug on the system. The findings raise questions about how license plate data gathered for local public safety is shared and used by outside agencies.
Dayton is not the only Ohio city rethinking its use of Flock cameras. In Columbus, Mayor Andrew Ginther’s administration said Wednesday it has paused permitting new Flock camera installations in the city’s right-of-way while it investigates an officer accused of misusing the system. In Toledo, the city council voted Tuesday to audit its use of Flock Safety cameras, though the cameras will remain in operation during the review.
The revelations add to a growing statewide debate over the balance between law enforcement surveillance tools and privacy protections. Flock cameras photograph license plates and vehicle characteristics, building a searchable database that police can use to track vehicles connected to investigations.
City officials have not said whether the cameras will be restored or what policy changes might accompany any return to service.