Edgewood, Kentucky – In a letter posted to the city’s Facebook page, Mayor John D. Link said the municipality will temporarily suspend the installation of new Flock Safety cameras. The pause will remain in effect until the city council can discuss the issue at its October 5 meeting, giving officials ample time to evaluate the technology and collect meaningful input from residents.
Reason for the pause
Mayor Link emphasized that the decision is not an abandonment of the technology or a reduction in support for the Edgewood Police Department. Rather, he described it as an “opportunity” to carefully review how the cameras are being used, understand both the benefits and the concerns, and consider any needed changes to policies, procedures, or safeguards.
Balancing safety and privacy
“We can strongly support our police officers and their responsibility to keep Edgewood safe while also asking reasonable questions about the technology used to accomplish that mission,” Link wrote. He added that public safety and individual rights are not competing values; the city’s responsibility is to find the right balance and ensure the technology reflects the trust residents place in their government.
Regional context
Edgewood joins several Greater Cincinnati communities that have recently ended or paused their Flock camera programs, including Newport, Independence, Fort Mitchell, Erlanger, Fort Thomas, Pierce Township and Oxford. Hamilton County law enforcement is also set to address the use of similar cameras in the county.
Legislative response
U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R‑KY) has introduced the “Flock‑Off Act,” a bill that would prohibit federal funds from being used to purchase, install, operate, or upgrade automated license‑plate readers and biometric surveillance cameras. Massie argues that taxpayers should not be forced to fund systems that could infringe on privacy.
Company’s reaction
In response to growing public concern, the company behind Flock cameras announced changes to its privacy practices, including reducing the default data‑retention period from 30 days to seven and making misuse detection mandatory for every customer.
Next steps
The city will keep the cameras off the council agenda until October 5, allowing for a thorough community discussion. Mayor Link reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Edgewood one of Kentucky’s safest cities while ensuring residents feel respected and heard.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
