Columbus Halts Flock Cameras After Officer Suspected of Stalking; Ohio Lawmakers Seek Statewide Limits

Key points

• Mayor Ginther directed the Department of Public Safety to investigate Officer Melvin Tellis, who searched a specific license plate more than 270 times between November 2023 and December 2024.
• The Columbus Division of Police will undergo a third-party audit of its Flock Safety usage to identify further misuse, with potential criminal charges if wrongdoing is confirmed.
• Ginther paused the city's use of Flock cameras but stated he intends to 'fight like hell' for the technology, noting it has been used in 60% of recent homicide arrests.
• A bipartisan group of Ohio state representatives asked the Ohio Department of Transportation to stop issuing new permits for license plate readers in state rights of way.
• Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin indicated the council will legislate on the topic this month, with a majority of members interested in ending the program.

Background

This development follows a national wave of scrutiny regarding Flock Safety technology. In August 2026, Florida ordered the removal of Flock cameras from state roads, and Texas paused state funding amid bipartisan privacy concerns. Earlier in 2026, Oviedo, Florida, also faced privacy debates over decoy Flock cameras. These actions reflect a broader trend of local and state governments re-evaluating automated surveillance contracts due to fears of unwarranted tracking and civil liberties violations.

How outlets are covering it

The Columbus Dispatch highlights the tension between public safety and privacy, noting that while Ginther and police leaders emphasize Flock's role in solving violent crimes and finding missing persons, the alleged misuse by Tellis has 'shaken' the mayor's trust. The Dispatch notes that Ginther previously insisted on keeping the technology, calling it a tool that 'saves lives,' but has now shifted to pausing usage pending an audit. The Statehouse News Bureau focuses on the legislative response, reporting that bipartisan lawmakers, including Rep. Tristan Rader and Rep. Levi Dean, argue that without strong safeguards, the technology creates a statewide tracking system. They emphasize the need to wind down the technology to protect privacy, contrasting with the city's approach of pausing usage while seeking to preserve the tool through stricter oversight.

Why it matters

The pause in Columbus and the legislative pressure in Ohio signal a significant shift in how municipalities and states regulate automated surveillance. The case of Officer Tellis illustrates the potential for abuse of powerful tracking tools, prompting a re-evaluation of the balance between law enforcement efficacy and individual privacy rights across the region.

What to watch

Columbus City Council is expected to vote on further actions regarding Flock cameras later this month. The Ohio Department of Transportation is reviewing the request from state lawmakers to halt new permits. The third-party audit of Columbus police's Flock usage will determine if additional officers face disciplinary or criminal consequences.