Columbus Halts Flock Cameras After Officer Suspected of Stalking; Ohio Lawmakers Seek Statewide Limits
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther paused the city's use of Flock Safety license plate readers following an investigation into Officer Melvin Tellis, who allegedly searched a single plate over 270 times for personal reasons. While Ginther supports the technology's utility in solving crimes, he ordered a third-party audit and suspended Tellis. Simultaneously, bipartisan Ohio lawmakers urged the state transportation department to halt new permits for such surveillance, citing privacy risks.