Hilliard City Council pauses Flock camera program

15 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Hilliard City Council voted unanimously on September 15, 2026, to pause the city's contract with Flock Safety for automatic license plate reader cameras. The decision came after months of discussion and review by council members. The city manager was directed to pause the program while the community considers what the city described as the broader implications of ALPR technology.

Hilliard joins other Central Ohio jurisdictions in pausing Flock operations. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced a similar decision on September 3, 2026. The technology has generated nationwide debate over its use and implications for communities.

According to city officials, the Flock cameras had been used for law enforcement purposes and helped solve crimes in Hilliard. The city emphasized that the pause decision was not based on concerns about misuse by the Hilliard Division of Police, and noted there is no investigation into officer misuse of the network. Instead, the city framed the decision as a question about whether the technology itself belongs in the community, rather than how it was being used.

Residents interested in tracking similar developments should monitor their local city council agendas, meeting minutes, and public records requests regarding ALPR camera contracts and renewal dates in their jurisdiction.

Read the original reporting: WSYX.