In a move aimed at safeguarding Akron residents’ privacy, the city announced Monday that its network of nearly 150 Flock Safety automatic license‑plate readers will no longer be searchable by law‑enforcement agencies outside the State of Ohio. The decision, described as an “interim” measure, was presented to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee by Chief of Public Safety Craig Morgan.
Why the Change?
Signal Akron documented 33.4 million searches of Akron’s records by out‑of‑state agencies over an 18‑month period. Of those, at least 8,829 searches were explicitly for immigration enforcement, many originating from Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia. The mayor’s office said the broad, nationwide searches provided little public‑safety benefit while opening the door to uses that conflict with Akron’s community values.
Mayor’s Statement
Mayor Shammas Malik said his administration “listened” to resident concerns and has been “methodically reviewing the data”. “What we’ve found is that these broad, nationwide searches provide little to no public safety benefit to Akron residents, but they potentially create opportunities for our camera data to be accessed for purposes that do not align with our policies or our community’s values,” Malik explained. “By opting out, we’re closing that door without compromising our ability to use this technology to keep Akron residents safe.”
How the System Will Work Going Forward
Akron’s Flock cameras will continue to automatically log every vehicle that passes, but only Ohio‑based law‑enforcement agencies may include Akron in their searches. Out‑of‑state agencies can still request a search through the Akron Police Department if they have a specific criminal suspect in the city.
The city’s contract with Flock allows the company to retain Akron’s records indefinitely and to share them with any agency that requests them. Council Member Fran Wilson, who has advocated for canceling the city’s contract with ICE, called the new restriction “milquetoast” because the cameras will keep logging every vehicle and the contract still permits broad data sharing.
Remaining Concerns
Eight Ohio law‑enforcement agencies have formal cooperation agreements with ICE and retain unrestricted access to Akron’s network. These agencies can bypass the new filter by simply not labeling a search as immigration‑related. ICE’s 287(g) program, which delegates certain immigration duties to state and local officers, remains active in the region.
Chief Morgan emphasized the department’s commitment to transparency and safeguards. “We recognize that residents have legitimate concerns about how this technology is used and who has access to the information it collects,” he said. “We’re committed to addressing those concerns through careful review, meaningful safeguards, and transparency. That means being willing to make changes when the data shows us there’s a better way to protect the public.”
Next Steps
The city did not specify how long the interim measure will remain in place, but officials indicated that the review process is ongoing. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through city council meetings and public‑safety briefings.
By taking this step, Akron joins a growing number of municipalities that are re‑examining the balance between advanced surveillance technology and individual liberty, a core value for families and faith‑based communities across the nation.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
